The AudioWorks

Arcam Solo Neo Now £999

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:58:23 +0000

Sometimes it takes a while to understand what a product can do, but we've had the Arcam Solo Neo for a couple of months now, and we are still finding new capabilities. So what is it?

Well, its a very reasonably priced high quality all in one CD player / tuner / amplifier.

But it's also:

A very advanced network player, that can find music that is stored on your computer either through ethernet or wi fi connection.

A sophisticated media player that will play stored music from a USB drive.

An internet radio player (via home computer) with access to thousands of radio programmes from around the world.

There are almost certainly things I've missed out, as I say the thing continues to surprise us with capability.

So if you are looking for a future proof all in one system, that doesn't deprive you of the ability to just play CDs or listen to the radio, it doesn't really get any better.

Green Mountain Audio

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:40:44 +0000

Probably the most time accurate speakers in the world!

Green Mountain Audio have been building loudspeakers in Colorado for more than a decade, and, like so much of the very best audio equipment, are the result of the vision and talent of an individual. Again like so many of the current crop of audio 'greats' this is a result of solid engineering practices. This is coupled to an attention to detail that would be impossible in a large product line orientated enterprise.

The results? Well come and hear for yourself. But if your objective is to have a system that will play any type of music; unravels the most complex music; plays in tune and in time in an unprecedented fashion; then you need to hear what these speakers can do.

Green Mountain speakers start at £2,200 per pair. The AudioWorks are the only retailer in the UK offering Green Mountain products

In Brief

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:14:27 +0000

MIT Cable Sale

In preparation for the arrival of the new MIT Matrix cables we have a number of ex demonstration bargains on our sale list including (nearly) half price examples of their fantastic MA range.

A Happy Arcam New Year

Arcam currently (until the end of January) have 2 promotions involving the AVR-400 home cinema amplifier.

Offer 1 - save £500 (£1,300 instead of £1,800) when you trade in any home cinema amplifier against the purchase of the AVR-400, irrespective of condition and age of the traded in item!

Offer 2 - Buy an AVR-400 amplifier and get a BDP-100 Blu ray player at half price. The package price of the player and amplifier is £2,325, saving £525 on the items purchased separately.

MusicWorks ReFlex Ultra Upgrade

For owners of the MusicWorks ReFlex Plus, you can now have your mains block upgraded to ReFlex Ultra standard. For IEC versions of the block the price is £360, for non IEC versions the upgrade price is £525.

Mistral Musical Bargains

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:09:36 +0000

Buy today:
Mistral DT-307A Valve Hybrid Amplifier £280

Mistral DT-307S Bookshelf Speakers £215

Mistral DT-307A & DT-307S Package £449

Magneplanar Panel Speakers

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:32:13 +0000

The legendary Magneplanar 'Quasi Ribbon' loudspeakers are now on demonstration. The MG 12 (£1,500) and new MG 1.7 (£2,500 - £2,600) represent the latest in a long line of unique designs that give coherent 'hear through' reproduction of music. You will want to look behind the speaker to see where the music is coming from!

Although by necessity the speakers have a large surface area, the fact that they are a few inches deep means that they do not take up large amounts of floor space. Lack of cabinet resonances make the speakers very neutral, and the coherent placement of the performance behind the speaker can make more conventional designs sound quite artificial.

Magneplanar MG12 £1,500

Magneplanar MG1.7 £2,500 - £2,600

Albarry - Return of a Legend

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:08:13 +0000

In the early 1980s Albarry Music produced a legendary product, in the shape of the M408, at a time when there was a lot of competition for a high performance audio product. Such was the 'aura' surrounding this product that legend has it, an Albarry amplifier made it to a centrefold in Playboy magazine!

Well, the legend has returned, and is even better. Benefitting from improved components, the speed and energy delivery of the amplifier is much improved over the original M408 (now in M608 guise indicating the improved power capability of 60W per channel into 8 Ohms). The M608 monoblock power amplifiers are £2,550 per pair.

Better news still is the development of a matching pre-amplifier. This is a stunner, and a bargain to boot, which could find it's way into improving the musical performance of many a system. The reason for paying particular attention to the pre-amp is that we know a lot of systems using dCS front ends forgo a preamp. This isn't the way to get the best out of dCS. Well now, for £1,950, you can own a preamp that will do justice to the amazing dCS front end.

(For more discussion about the Albarry amplifier - visit the Hi Fi Room of our Virtual Pub)

The Tweak Before Christmas!

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:13:56 +0000

It's not every day that a way to improve a multi thousand pound Hi Fi system comes along for £20. Well today is one of those rare days. New from MusicWorks is a cable 'tuning' system that can have a big effect in a large number of systems. Needless to say, the better the system already is, the bigger the effect that putting a ReBound into the system will achieve.

If you would like to try the effectiveness of a ReBound in your system, please contact the shop.

Alternatively you can buy and try the ReBound in your system. If it doesn't work for you, just return it to us for a full refund. Postage is for UK only.

For more musicworks products, click the 'see the full article' link below

Lavardin Amplification now on Demonstration

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:13:19 +0000

Lavardin have long been famous for their innovative amplifier designs. These fast, ultra low distortion amplifiers have the ability to render music with a natural purity that is very rarely encountered in an audio product.

The amplifier range (integrated and pre and power combinations) come into their own on acoustic music, where instrument textures and subtlety are preserved to a remarkable degree.

Starting at less than £2000, these products really do represent a musical bargain.

The Best Hi Fi In The World?

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:05:38 +0000

Well, we've known it for some time, but it does appear that the most discerning of the world's Hi Fi press agrees with us .

Our current reference Hi Fi system could just be the best audio system in the world, according to the international Hi Fi press. We have chosen this system by listening to lots of alternatives, and we find it produces stunningly musical results.

This system comprises:

dCS Scarlatti four box CD / SACD playing system (that accepts computer audio too!) - this system has won numerous prestigious awards, and has found its way into the home system of the world's cognoscenti.

The David Berning ZOTL Pre 1 with ZH230 power amplifier. As reviewed in several recent issues of Hi Fi Plus magazine (including 2 reviews in issue 82 this month) providing their reviewers with new reference points for amplification - and probably large holes in their bank balances. Editors choice award in 'The Absolute Sound' magazine 2011.

Focal Utopia speakers (model chosen according to room size). Winners of many awards for best loudspeakers available, these loudspeakers use the most advanced technology available to achieve stunning results.

This system is on demonstration at The AudioWorks. Please call to arrange an audition.

MusicWorks ReFlex Power Distribution Blocks

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:51:22 +0000

Designed to allow the ultimate performance of the finest hi fi and audio / visual systems. The ReFlex mains blocks use novel design and engineering to reduce the effects of electrical noise in the critical environment of high performance audio systems.

Features of the ReFlex power distribution block:

'Non resonant' critically shaped acrylic sandwich construction.

Star earthed power outlets.

'Quasi balanced' power distribution.

Carefully chosen power sockets.

Two variants of the ReFlex Block are available:

ReFlex Lite

This has all the above features in a cost effective package, and provides optimum power distribution for a wide range of systems.

ReFlex Lite: £450

ReFlex Ultra

By carefully addressing all known sources of noise within the ReFlex block, the 'Ultra' is the ultimate expression of what is possible from a power distribution block. The ReFlex Ultra features:
Optimised star earthing arrangement.
Replacement of metal fastenings with nylon & polycarbonate.
Reduced sources of em noise to the earth point.
Cryogenic treatment of all electrical components.
Specially designed cable terminations to reduce mechanical noise.

To achieve this required a large number of new, specially designed and fabricated parts. The results, we think, speak for themselves.

ReFlex Ultra: £890

Upgrade and exchange schemes operate for all current users of the MusicWorks ReFlex power block.