Indholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2023 i Sound + Image

Bowers & Wilkins has two headphone announcements — a sumptuous Royal Burgundy Nappa leather and gold take on its Px8 range-topper at $1149, and a whole new 'evolution' of the Px7 S2, becoming the Px7 S2e, at $599. The new Px7 S2e model benefits from extensively upgraded Digital Signal Processing, which gave the design team the opportunity to retune the Px7 S2's acoustic platform around the existing custom-designed 40mm drive units. Connections can be made via cable or USB-C as well as using the wireless Bluetooth with aptX adaptive, while six high-performance microphones work together to deliver noise cancellation when required. The Px7 S2e is available in black, grey and the pictured 'ocean blue', and 'forest green'. More info: bowerswilkins.com/en-au…

The 'W' in the name is crucial here: we applaud greatly Pro-Ject's decision to up the stakes in the on-trend streaming turntable market by offering its first-ever turntable which connects not via Bluetooth but over the higher-quality link of Wi-Fi. That means better audio quality is possible — up to and above CD quality, indeed, if you have a receiving networked device which can handle FLAC streams. The new T2 W is positioned as a step-up model from the current (non-Wi-Fi) T1, and superficially looks like a larger version of it. Yet underneath is a high-quality built-in phono stage and the capability of wireless connection and transmission to other devices on the network — such as compatible music streamers or DACs, smart amps, AV receivers or even smart speakers. Crucially…

NAD's Masters M66 streaming DAC/preamplifier is due to ship in November after making its debut in Munich earlier this year. Described as a “no-compromise component”, it combines the BluOS multiroom streaming platform from sister company Bluesound with ESS's flagship DAC chip and Dirac room correction processing, all in one versatile box which might be considered a natural partner for the company's M23 power amplifier. As well as being able to play ball with other BluOS cand Bluesound components in a multi-room environment, the M66 is also compatible with smart control systems such as Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI and URC. Dirac Live Room Correction is joined by Dirac Live Bass Control, which allows for independent calibration of multiple connected active subwoofers. In this regard the M66 offers four balanced XLR and…

SUMMARY Yamaha True X system Price: $1599 + Solid fundamental performance + Power and intelligibility + Wireless rears double as Bluetooth speakers – Competitive market Great fanfare for Yamaha's True X, which the company describes as a 'True Wireless Surround system', the surround element being small wireless surround speakers you can add to the initial package of soundbar and wireless subwoofer. The soundbar and wireless subwoofer alone (SR-X50A) deliver 2.1.2, meaning stereo left and right from the front of the bar, plus the '.1' of the wireless subwoofer, and two additional driver units on the top of the soundbar which bring Dolby Atmos height performance to this Yamaha bar. If you then add two little speakers, called variously 'True X Speaker 1A' or WS-X1A, these mono speakers each connect wirelessly…

SUMMARY Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 Price: $1149 + Improved clarity, refinement and openness + Punchy, dynamic and lively sound + Build and finish at the price – Sweet treble can sound a touch forward – Needs some care with system matching Eighth generation, now, Bowers & Wilkins' entry-level 600 Series of speakers, the most affordable access point to this legendary loudspeaker marque. And easiest of all on the pocket book is the 607 S3 standmount or bookshelf model, the smallest speaker in the range, Easy on the eye, too — elegant and rather premium for their price of $1149 the pair. Such compact performers could front up a small high-quality hi-fi system, or perhaps take up rear duties in a surround system. Either way they take their predecessors' talents…

We regularly feature some of Australia's finest home cinemas and smart homes in the pages of Sound+Image. But once a year there's a flood of superb installations revealed through the winners and finalists of the annual awards from CEDIA, the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association. These awards are global, and as one of CEDIA's media partners we're delighted to bring you right here, right now, all the finalists from the Asia-Pacific region for 2023. And for a little context and insight, we asked CEDIA Australia's Paul Skelton why our readers thinking of a home cinema or integration work should seek out a CEDIA member. “CEDIA members, in particular those who hold industry certifications, have proven that they have the skills to do the work,” he explains. “Longevity is important,…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards In the bustling city of Auckland, New Zealand, a local businessman with a deep passion for cinema set his sights on creating an 'Almost Perfect Home Cinema'. Seeking the expertise of Liquid Automation, a renowned local integrator, the client embarked on a journey to transform a child's playroom area into a state-of-the-art home theatre that would rival commercial cinemas. To ensure the ultimate end-user experience, the focus was on incorporating high-end and reliable components with excellent product support. The client, wellversed in home theatre equipment, researched detailed specifications and manufacturer information for the selected components. Liquid Automation meticulously assembled a technology package to satisfy the client's cinephile enthusiasm. The team installed various cinema control systems, including iPads and a hard-button remote from Crestron, allowing seamless control, and…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards At the core of this project was the goal of creating a family home that evolves with its residents. Nisi Group's dedication led to a space with multiple entertainment areas designed to foster togetherness. Sustainability was also a priority, reflecting a commitment to a greener future. The smart home was made possible by Control4's control system, streamlining automation and security. Triad's audio distribution system elevated sound quality in every room, while the video distribution system enhanced the movie-watching experience. The home theatre is a luxurious space featuring a Sony 4K projector, a 145-inch acoustically-transparent screen, and Triad Silver Series surround sound with Dolby Atmos. The intelligent system dims lights during movies, enhancing safety and atmosphere. Convenience was key, with automated windows responding to internal carbon monoxide levels,…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards Introducing Greenhills Beach: a stunning 'forever' home designed for a family of four, showcasing a perfect blend of luxury, functionality, and cutting-edge technology. Kayder, a leading home automation integrator, took on the challenge of creating an exceptional living space with a simple-touse and reliable smart home system. Spread across three blocks of land, the Greenhills Beach residence offers lavish amenities like an underground basketball court, tennis court, pool, yoga studio, and gymnasium. The challenge was to seamlessly integrate state-of-the-art smart home technology without compromising the elegant aesthetics of the home. Kayder proposed an end-to-end Crestron smart-home system, eliminating the need to integrate with multiple manufacturers. Small aperture speakers were chosen to merge seamlessly with the design, offering highquality sound throughout the property. For outdoor entertainment, meanwhile, Crestron's…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards WestCoast Hifi's Experience Centre in East Perth is a futuristic home automation showcase, designed to educate and inspire interior designers, architects and builders, as well as homeowners, about smart and connected homes. At the heart of the showroom is the 'Tiny House', a dedicated space displaying a variety of products integrated seamlessly into a home environment. The Tiny House serves as an educational tool, showcasing the benefits of home automation. The WestCoast Hifi Experience Centre also houses a retail area with an extensive range of products from leading brands, where customers can interact with cutting-edge hi-fi equipment, soundbars, and AV products. Upstairs, the mezzanine area provides a 'man cave' ambience, displaying high-end twochannel hi-fi systems and offering a relaxing environment for hi-fi enthusiasts. The flagship theatre room…

hi-fi 50 years of Tivoli Hi-Fi Melbourne, October 1973. Two hi-fi technicians and a security-savvy third partner set themselves up as Tivoli Hi-Fi & Stereo Repairs, with a sideline in burglar alarms. Today, five decades on, Tivoli Hi-Fi is an established destination store for hi-fi and AV, an experience centre packed with established brands. We spoke with Philippe Luder about Tivoli Hi-Fi's beginnings, and how it all contrasts with the modern hi-fi store today. SOUND+IMAGE: Congratulations on Tivoli Hi-Fi's 50th anniversary! You've been there since the start — so tell us how it began, what the hi-fi scene was like in Melbourne back then. PHILIPPE LUDER: Yes I was there at the very beginning. Tivoli Hi-Fi's birthplace was in Hawthorn, it was in 1973. Very shortly afterwards, in 1974, we moved…

music & movies new music from old names It's a perfect album title, as Chrissie Hynde's Pretenders have been persistently knocking out marvellous records since 1979. If further evidence of their greatness were needed, remember how they walked away with Glastonbury 2023. Johnny Marr, Dave Grohl and even Paul McCartney furiously thumbing-up from the wings were all well and good, but surplus to requirements. The Pretenders rocked like bastards, especially dexterous guitarist James Walbourne, through a timeless set of songs. On top of it all was Hynde's golden voice, an instrument that has, if anything, improved with age. You couldn't say the same about all the big names (hello Mr A Rose) who togged out in Somerset. Like Pretenders' last album, 2020's 'Hate For Sale', a critical hit that deserved…

Key W = Sound+Image Award Product of the Year HC = Sound+Image Award Highly Commended E = EISA Award winner WELCOME Our buying guide is based on the Sound+Image Awards presented each year. Now fully updated with the latest winners from our 2023 Awards, and also, as an EISA member, including recent EISA winners, it's the ultimate guide to the best audio & AV products available on the market today. See the key above to understand which products won what and when… Projectors In a dedicated or darkened room, projectors deliver bigscreen images of which even the largest TVs can only dream. There are four 'ranks' in the market — portable models of relatively low resolution, full-HD projectors, those which deliver UHD by pixel-shifting, and those with genuine native 4K resolution.…

news It has long been on a promise, but now it's here, and it's got a price too. The Rega Naia is a product-ready version of the conceptual Rega 'Naiad' turntable created by the Southend-on-Sea company primarily as an R&D exercise — an engineering ode to the art of vinyl replay. But the R&D Naiad proved so popular that Rega hand-built a limited series of 50 units, until returning to the original aim — to develop ideas on the conceptual Naiad that could then be incorporated into a new reference-level production turntable. And that's the 'Naia', which the British brand believes will “reach new levels of vinyl replay” from its skeletal plinth of grapheneinfused carbon-fibre, and new titanium tonearm. Those limited-edition Naiads were going for $60,000, but you'll be able…

news “It's not a soundbar - it's a sound experience,“ claims South Australia's Krix of its new LX-7. In one key regard it does indeed diverage from soundbar norms, stripping out all the amps and processing to deliver a completely passive soundbar. So you bring your own amplifier, and since the LX-7 delivers three front channels, you'll need more than a stereo amplifier to drive it. The recommendation is to use the three LCR channels of an audio-visual receiver. You'll also need a subwoofer — “the LX-7 is intended to be combined with a Krix subwoofer(s) to accurately reproduce the lowest frequencies”, says the company. And with your AV receiver's remaining channels then going begging, you'll be wanting separate surround and/or height speakers as well; Krix can again oblige with…

Of course, it's so obvious now that the one thing missing from the 2022 Zeppelin, the most recent release of Bowers & Wilkins' iconic streaming speaker, was its shameful lack of orangeness. Or more specifically 'papayaness', since this new release is a tie-up with McLaren, last seen adding tangerine trims to Klipsch earbuds and wireless speakers. It's a tad disappointing that on the main official McLaren edition Zeppelin ($1399, a $200 premium for the privileges of papaya), the reserved Brits at B&W have restricted the bright stuff to tasteful highlights on the base. Our money would be much more tempted by the fully papaya-wrapped version pictured here, as orange as orange can be, but this is available only from selected McLaren dealers, and we've a nasty feeling you may have…

hi-fi streamer Cambridge MXN10 streaming music player SUMMARY Cambridge MXN10 Price: $899 + Brilliant all-round sonic performance for the price + Great streaming features and file compatibility - No MQA Tidal support - No on-unit display We registered our approval of this little unit — the Cambridge MXN10 streamer and DAC — in this year's Sound+Image Awards, where it was our Streaming Music Player of the Year under $1000. But we never brought you a full review and description of its abilities. Here it is. Build & facilities The Cambridge Audio MXN10 is certainly one of the most unobtrusive network players you'll find, as well as one of the less expensive. It follows the design of other half-width electronics from the UK's Cambridge, finished in smooth lunar grey with a row…

As a regional leader in cinema design, Shanghai-based Sentiment HiFi eagerly embraced the task of catering to the discerning tastes of a passionate audiophile while building an exceptional premium home theatre that surpassed the most stringent standards. To ensure an immersive auditory experience for this mesmerising theatre, the channel configuration is 11.5.6.3, incorporating three high-channel screen speakers and rear surround channel high speakers. This set-up enabled support for the complete range of available 3D audio channels. Christie's curved line-array Vive Audio speakers with planar ribbon drivers were selected to achieve commerciallevel sound pressure performance while delivering hi-fi-quality sound. A unique vision of exposed speakers inspired an innovative design with wavy curved surfaces. The Christie Vive Audio's curved array loudspeakers seamlessly blend with undulating waves of acoustic decoration: Hence Sentiment has…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards Zene Private Theater faced a unique challenge when tasked with creating a perfect private cinema experience for an apartmentdwelling customer in Beijing. The client wanted to enjoy immersive movie nights without disturbing neighbours. Zene's ingenious solution involved building a soundproof room within a room, and detaching the new cinema walls from the existing ones to minimise noise transmission. Careful construction and a 'floating' floor design further reduced sound transmission. For acoustic treatment, Zene used industry-leading sound panels from Quest Interiors and Arithmetic Design, customising the panels to fit the unique room shapes while providing excellent diffusion, making the room feel larger. The client wanted to retain the stunning lake view from the cinema, so maintaining audio and picture quality was a challenge. Zene proposed a soundproof glass…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards The pictures for this project are limited by confidentially; we can see only the Media Room in this luxurious Auckland smart home, transformed as a retrofit by Liquid Automation, having previously worked on a luxury residence for the same client. Liquid Automation set about crafting new system drawings and cable schedules despite the lack of documentation from the original installation. Comprehensive CAD drawings and cable schedules down to the component level will allow future upgrades and enhancements with ease. Central to the smart home is the centralised rack housing all audio-visual equipment, meticulously connected to various areas through minimal cabling. Relocating and rebuilding the main rack proved challenging, but Liquid Automation's skilled technicians managed the process efficiently for a tidy and effective AV rack rebuild. Liquid Automation's…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards In Sydney's eastern suburbs, a magnificent seven-bedroom seaside residence with captivating harbour views was ready for a transformative renovation. The Americanbased clients, experienced in smart-home automation, sought to revamp the property with high-end fittings and the latest technology. Denote embraced the challenge, aiming to bring their vision to life. Remote consultations facilitated effective collaboration between the architects and Denote. The clients' familiarity with smarthome technology led them to request the Savant control system and seamless integration of multiple sub-systems. Denote tailored a solution to meet every aspect of their requirements. Reliability was a top priority and Denote opted for proven equipment to ensure smooth operation. Lutron's Sivoia shading system and lighting solution, with engraved keypads and superior dimming, were chosen after careful consultation, Denote also integrating advanced…

A body washes up on the shore of a lake near a small mountain sawmill town. There's a lady with a log, a dancing dwarf, and a girl next door with a double life that would end in a murder that might never be solved. Thirty-five years after David Lynch and Mark Frost took their eccentric, wayward pitch to ABC in the US in 1988, there's still been nothing like it. Welcome to Twin Peaks… 01 Agent Dale Cooper You have to know that there was a time before Fox Mulder to realise how morning fresh the character of Dale Cooper was in 1990. On-screen Feds then were hard on gristle and light on quirk. Then along comes Agent Dale Cooper, with his baby-soft skin and Christmas morning eyes, a Sherlock-brained…

Another bewitching, mesmeric record from a musician who continually feels both o? -kilter and out of step with society. She needn't, though. Go back and listen to early Sinead O'Connor — she sounds very influenced by Hersh's first band, Throwing Muses; the same passion, intimacy, sensory overload, and way around an unexpected rhythm. This has continued through Hersh's work, solo and with the Muses and fiery 50 Foot Wave, and continues here, albeit perhaps not so angry — this time, her spooky disconcerting passion is assuaged by a seductive gentleness. It's an album that rewards repeated immersion within its layers of acoustic guitar, questing strings and Mellotron. Always, her mournful semi-wailing voice hints at darkness and light simultaneously. A little bit creepy, sure, but not in an evil way. Ms.…

music & movies new music from old names This New Noise Electro-orchestral Prom recording celebrates 100 years of the BBC. Who better to celebrate the BBC's centenary last year than vintage valve-amp electro-rockers Public Service Broadcasting? Lightly remixed by frontman J Willgoose Esq, 'This New Noise' is a polished live recording of PSB's ambitiously rich 50-minute paean to the wireless age, as premiered at the 2022 Proms with conductor-composer Jules Buckley and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Overlaying the band's Radiophonic burbles with sepiatinted brass, silken strings and antique audio quotes, these tracks radiate Bisto nostalgia and Festival Of Britain idealism. Thankfully, after a tasteful start PSB galvanise themselves into pomp-rock mode with the emotionally charged fanfares of A Candle Which Will Not Be Put Out. Then the lyrical, mournful What…

news Yamaha's HA-L7A headphone amplifier made one of its first 'unofficial' appearances in prototype form at last April's Australian Hi-Fi Show in Sydney. Now it's finally official — Yamaha's first-ever high-end headphone amplifier is out, the ideal amplification partner for the EISA and Sound+Image award-winning YH-5000SE headphones, though of course any wired headphones can be used with it. The 5.3kg chassis has 8mm-thick aluminium top panels and is curiously L-shaped because of the power section's twin towers, which are toroidal transformers above the power supply board, itself fully isolated from the ground and from the separate main and amplifier boards. There Yamaha's amplifier engineering is to the fore with the use of patented Floating and Balanced Power Amplifier technologies. The HL-L7A has both analogue and digital inputs: line-level RCA inputs,…

For music-makers, ProTools remains a studio standard, and in the last couple of years subscription packages as low as US$9.99 a month have returned it to affordability for home musicians as well. But its complexity can put off new users. A new 'Sketch' creation window could change that, displaying songs as clip-based creations in a non-linear but more intuitive version for building songs, especially as Sketch ports easily to an iPad for still easier touch-based use. And since the Sketch documents (.ptsketch file format) are managed separately from Pro Tools Session files (.ptx), any Sketch document can be opened in any Session at any time to share clips and sequences between sessions. Sketch is available in all current ProTools versions, including Pro Tools Intro. More info: www.avid.com…

“A part from tweeter drivers taken from our award winning MR1 speakers, absolutely everything about our 100 Series is new!”, says Ruark's MD Alan O'Rourke, describing the 100 Series as “a new and exciting chapter for Ruark.” The first of the new series is the 56cm-wide R410 all-in-one streaming system, with a retro design bedecked in sustainable wood panelling, a sleek touchscreen display, and the company's customary RotoDial controller. Under the hood is a Class-D amplifier offering 120 watts of power per channel. This is a change for Ruark, which has stuck with more traditional Class-AB amplification for previous designs. Ruark says it has gone for digital amplification now partly for its “high efficiency and output with ultra-low distortion”, and partly because the smaller form factor let the company “mount…

hi-fi smart amplifier SUMMARY Advance Paris MyConnect 150 Price: $3799 + Great-sounding amplifier + Aesthetic gorgeousness + Incredible input/output provision – App and USB-A limitations – Limited direct input selection – Bluetooth requires optional dongle Let's start at the end; our last evening with the MyConnect 150. It is a big and beautiful amplifier, although Advance Paris terms it more than an amplifier — an 'all-in-one', because it includes a CD player, FM/DAB+ radios and streaming, so everything you need except loudspeakers. It has physical presence: as we ascend the stairs to the music room it looms up ahead on the top shelf of a curvaceous Quadraspire hi-fi rack, and how beautiful it looks, glowing orange-red around the ECC-81 valves visible at mid-left, blue around the needles waiting to bounce…

Seeking a captivating escape for their loved ones, the homeowners here approached McCormick Concepts in search of a premium cinema experience with captivating aesthetics. Their primary goal was to create a unique and elegant cinema room that would become a cherished family retreat. With a focus on fulfilling the family's needs, McCormick Concepts worked with Wavetrain Cinema to carefully plan the seating arrangement to accommodate two rows of comfortable cinema chairs for up to eight people, with an additional bar area that could serve as a third row for larger gatherings. To bring the client's vision to life, the design incorporates special feature lighting with automated controls to create captivating ambiance and to showcase various scenes. Timber veneer finishes were used throughout the interior, adding sophistication and warmth to the…

udiovisual CEDIA Awards ALSO WINNER: BEST HOME CINEMA – GLOBAL WINNER: EXCELLENCE IN RACK BUILDING AND DESIGN Regular readers will recognise 'The Cloister' by Wavetrain Cinemas from our full feature last issue. CEDIA's judges loved this unrivalled luxury home cinema nestled within a historic Australian mansion, awarding not only the highest Home Cinema award in our region, but another for Excellent in Rack Building and Design — and finally CEDIA's Global win for Best Home Cinema in the world! This opulent masterpiece combines visionary design, cutting-edge technology, and acoustic brilliance to create an enchanting realm of immersive entertainment within a unique design concept inspired by gothic-style windows and a church cloister entrance to the basement cinema, accentuating materials, textures, and sheen. To achieve an immersive audio experience, Wavetrain Cinemas fully…

audiovisual CEDIA Awards Argus Technologies has achieved this remarkable smart home project in a picturesque hilly, coastal and bush-fire zone, demonstrating the endless possibilities of smart home automation in transforming our living spaces. Located far from the bustling city, the remote property presented a unique challenge given that the homeowner nevertheless required full control and visibility over the property, seamless connectivity and remote access. The objective was clear: to create a home that served as both a personal retreat and a captivating Airbnb rental, offering an unforgettable experience to guests. Argus Technologies has crafted a cuttingedge smart home that seamlessly shifts between its roles. Whether welcoming the homeowner back after a tranquil escape, or enchanting Airbnb guests on arrival with its intuitive operation and modern allure, this smart coastal retreat…

Gold Class AV's cutting-edge Experience Centre in Toowoomba, Queensland now o? ers an unparalleled audio-visual journey ful? lling the motto 'VIEW • LISTEN • EXPERIENCE' that adorns its facade. By showcasing working concepts, clients can witness the excellence and care Gold Class AV provides, whether for a mixed media room or the awe-inspiring cinema room which boasts 7.4.4 with 17 speakers, a 167”-inch Screen Excellence projector screen, Sony laser projector, and custom acoustics. Gold Class AV's Experience Centre is not just about showcasing products; it's about building a connection with clients. GOLD CLASS AV Toowoomba City, QLD 4350 07 4630 4433 www.goldclassav.com.au…

Amazingly, Ash have been dealing out punk fever and ace melodies for more than 30 years now. The guitar riffs are memorable and the chorus lines swoon in a classic manner. Their music seems resistant to age and maturity. So it is with 'Race The Night', their first studio album since 'Islands' in 2018 and a stirring reminder of their worth. Even better, the separation of these former school pals during the pandemic has given them a renewed sense of mission. They are determined to rock, passionately. The record is self-produced, a practice that Ash continue to master. It opens with the title track, a power drive that splices the familiar Weezer and Brian Wilson parts with throbbing Europop. The words have an evolving Tim Wheeler message: seize the romance…

music & movies classic track “I'm incredibly proud of that song. To have ownership of something that powerful is something I'll never be able to get used to,” said Eric Clapton of Layla in 1988. “It still knocks me out when I play it.” One of the most recognisable rock songs, Layla begins with a seven-note riff of awesome expectancy, followed by an intense, intoxicating cry of unrequited love: 'What'll you do when things get lonely?' It was directed at Pattie Harrison, wife of ex-Beatles George Harrison. Clapton was trying to lure her away from her husband, with whom he was good mates. That wasn't widely known when the song appeared in 1970 on the Derek And The Dominos album 'Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs', but it was obvious…