Compact Speakers with a Massive Performance

At SightandSoundUK, we are often asked the following question - Most music lovers want to enjoy audiophile, hi-fi quality sound but is this achievable without great big floorstanding speakers?


Generally the answer is no, but when ProAc launched the 9th generation of their ultra compact Tablette Anniversary standmount / bookshelf speakers the theory that small speakers can't create a rich full performance is blown completely out of the water.


The anniversary edition ProAc Tablette features a newly designed mid-range / bass driver which is the same size as previous Tablette drive units but the housing has been crafted into a smaller unit allowing for an even more compact cabinet size.



The 5 inch bass/mid driver delivers an astonishing bass response which is delivered with accuracy and dexterity, of course the rich and pure mid-range is present and is now known as a hallmark of ProAc loudspeakers, whilst the treble is crisp and detailed but by no means overbright.

With great review after great review and as a result of our own auditioning and day-to-day listening with a variety of music from the big band jazz of Ray Gelato to the hard rock of Black Sabbath, we can certainly recommend the Proac Tablette Anniversary as the best compact speakers we have heard. Furthermore they are availble at a price that will not break the bank - buy with confidence and enjoy!


Reviewed by David Barker.

Buy the best AV Receiver for the Best Price

---

There are many Home Cinema Surround Sound Receivers available at a variety of prices and with a variety of features, but which one should you buy?

Quite a difficult question but there is one AV amp that makes a lot easier to answer - Onkyo TX-NR609. Priced at just under £500, there isn't another AV Reciever available at that price with as many features as the 609. With THX Select2 Plus certification, txnr609 handles disc based media, be it Blu-Ray, DVD or CD with precision and detail, through its network and wireless capabilities - audio content from your PC, MAC, iPod / iPhone as well as audio via the internet. Add to this, 6 HDMi inputs (one of which is on the front panel) that support 3D video, high
resolution 4K video upscaling using Marvell Qdeo, DTS and Dolby High Definition sound formats and superb amplifier performance and you have for yourself an amazing powerhouse of a system which is beginning to receive a great deal of praise in review.

Easy to Set up

With its ease of set-up, overlayed on screen display that is carried via HDMi, the settings can be adjusted whilst you are watching your favourite films without spoiling the experience - it is in the fine details such as this that Onkyo have come up with what looks to be another classic.

3D and Audio Return Channel via HDMi


Enjoy stunning 3D video via TV broadcast or games for true to life, dramatic 3D imagery and with the Audio Return Channel, sound from your TV's own tuner will be streamed back into your receiver thus eliminating the need for an extra digital COAX or optical cable and cutting down the extra cost that cabling always adds to the purchase of a home cinema system.

PC Connectivity

TXNR609 also features a PC-In input which will allow you to stream video from your PC, a really well thought out feature. Please note that audio may need t be connected to the 609 using a seperate cable but with the Onkyo's myriad of analogue and digital inputs, you will not be short of options.

Network Features


Connecting your Home PC or Laptop to the TX-NR609 could n't be easier. With interaction with Internet Radio services such as Napster, Pandora, Sirius Internet Radio, MediaFly, vTuner, Slacker etc, and with support for Spotify, the sound quality and functionality for these type of services has never been better. An of course with Internet Radio, you can listen to even the most obscure genres of music from any location in the world - the 609 is also compatible with Microsoft Windows 7 's DLNA 'Play To' streaming feature.

THX Select 2 Plus

THX certification means that the Onkyo TX-NR609 has been certified as hving the capability to reproduce Surround Sound film soundtrack faithfully and as the filmakers and director intended it to be. But the TX-NR 609 with confidence -

relax, enjoy...........

New Yamaha AV Receivers - Amazing New Models

Yamaha have for many years now been at the forefront of Home Cinema technology. They are one of the first quality brands to develop Home Theatre AV receivers and have had excellent review after review for their innovative products.

The latest range of AV receivers raises the bar even higher as not only are these models built to the high standards that we have come to expect from Yamaha, they also feature new technologies such as 3D and Audio Return via HDMi and feature the latest High Defination sound format decoding from Dolby and DTS. The models in the range include the entry level RX-V371, the RXV471, RX-V571, RX-V671 and the superb RX-V771. Each of these models improves in features, inputs, video and audio quality as you move up the range but one thing remains the same whichever model you choose - the Yamaha quality brings out the very best from your music and movie soundtracks and at an a superb price.

Monitor Audio Silver RX6 AV12 Speaker Package a sure winner

Most people who are interested in Hi-Fi or Home Cinema will be aware of the quality of Monitor Audio products and this has been the case for many years now.

The latest version of the excellent Silver range of speakers is directly descended fron the superb RS range and there is a speaker for every system within the range. One of the most highly regarded set-ups is the award winning Silver RX6 AV12 Package for home cinema.

The package consists of the powerful full range RX6 floorstanding speakers for the front two channels - these allow for sublime playback of both music (at hi-fi quality) and movie soundtracks - accompanied by the RX-LCR centre channel speaker which delivers a rich, clear dialogue, the RX-FX bipole wall-mountable rear speakers and the powerful RX-W12 subwoofer - the result - an excellent and elegant Home Cinema speaker package that will deliver truly amazing results - and it is not only us that thinks they are great -

"The RX6 AV12 does a great job of setting the mood, picking out fine atmospheric details and maintaining excellent low-level dynamics" - What Hi-Fi Sound and Vision Magazine.


'Build quality is exquisite. Elegant to the eye but tough and robust within... High frequencies never sound harsh, midrange is full of body and the sub doesn't know the meaning of the word flabby... (The Package's) boundless energy and sheer listenability makes it hard to beat.' - Danny Phillips, Home Cinema Choice 184


For further reviews, please see this review page. And to order this fantastic package at a great price, please call 01253 788380.

Marantz NA7004 Network Audio Player - Change the way you listen to music

Marantz NA-7004 Network Music Player could well be the future of hi-fi, particularly for those music fans that no longer purchase music on CD. NA-7004 will connect to your PC, an external hard disc, or will playback FM, DAB or DAB+ radio station broadcast in your country, or even from any country in the world via Internet radio or Napster music service. Available in both black and silver finish, the excellent NA7004 has Digital Coax, Optical and iPod compatible USB inputs and not forgetting ethernet for network connection.

Add to this, the excellent Hi-Fi pedigree know-how from Marantz and you have a truly excellent music centre with all the latest connectivity. Marantz NA-7004 opens the door to a whole new world of music - Internet radio has stations from all over the world from any genre you can think of.

Grado SR325is - The best headphones by far

Winning the What Hi-Fi Award for £150 - £500 was a great testement to how good Grado SR325is headphones really are but it doesn't stop there, all the major HiFi press have heaped praise on these excellent headphones in review.

It is often quoted that you would need to spend approximately 10 times more on a pair of speakers to match the performance of a set of headphones - of course this is a rule of the thumb but it is true that if you spend a little more on headphones, it usually results in a great improvement in performance - the same can be said with the Grado range. Whilst the entry level SR60i and SR80i are very good, there is a huge improvement when you get to the level of the SR325i.
When we first listened to the SR325is, we hooked them up to the
Graham Slee Novo Headphone Amplifier and then the
Lehmann Audio Rhinelander headphone amp.

The results from both of the these amplifiers was excellent - we gave the headphones and electronics a little while to run in but it has to be said that we found the performance to be superb straight out of the box. Grado SR325is have very comfortable ear pads which allow them to be worn for long periods of time without them becoming uncomfortable.

Both of the headphone amplifiers we tested the SR325 on are also What Hi-Fi award winners so this was a perfect test. We found that with the Graham Slee Novo, the music we listened to was very detailed and crisp, we listened to a variety of music - from the smooth jazz guitar of Kenny Burrell through to the heavier rock of Led Zeppelin with some electronic and synthesiser music thrown in for good balance. Used with the Lehmann Audio Rhinelander, we found the performance to be smoother but still with a massive amount of detail.

Whichever way you listen to the SR325is, one thing is for sure - they are a truly excellent pair of headphones that guarantee you pure enjoyment of your favourite music. Sight and Sound are offering the SR325is as part of a money saving package with both the Graham Slee Novo and the Lehmann Audio Headphone Amplifiers. Whichever way you do it - the SR325is are a pair of headphones that will impress as Hi-Fi Choice magfazine have said in their review -

"the degree of insight these headphones offer into sounds is really very impressive. This is high quality music reproduction, thoroughly deserving of serious attention."

Richard Black / Hi-FiChoice magazine

Clearaudio Concept - A Luxury Turntable at an affordable price

Apart from winning an award in What Hi-Fi 2010 awards, Clearaudio Concept Hi-Fi turntable has had a great deal of great press and in review, the Hi-Fi media has been quick to recognise the quality of this well put together record player.


In a review, Hi-Fi Choice said 'Clearaudio's combination of audio and aesthetic design has produced a winning combination here which we feel sure will both win converts and keep them devoted to the analogue cause.'