Monthly Archives: September 2015

Our regular customers and followers (and, indeed, our readers. Hello!) have probably noticed by now that we like to have a sparkly new theme, each and every month. This theme applies to everything, from what we read about (and share) on social media, to the events we hold in store and - of course - to all of our special offers. It also helps us narrow down what we will be talking about in that month's blogs (again, hello!). They're usually about something broad, like vinyl or speakers, or perhaps

Ready for a little deja-vu? Yes? Well, in which case, I have a few questions for you. And, if you'd read last weeks blog about this particular item's little brother, you may recognise them.

1: Have you heard of Yamaha MusicCast?

2. Do you actually know what it’s about?

Well, we’ve already covered both of those things in detail in this blog. And if you’ve read it, you know that MusicCast covers so many different products and devices (and lots of different types of ones at that!) that it was impossible

When it comes to the tried, tested and trusted hi-fi of the world, there’s a few things that ‘count’. Sure, sound and build quality are pretty important factors (essential, in fact) but those standards are already ridiculously high. So, what is it that makes a hi-fi brand - like Meridian - as special as you know it to be?

Well, that’s what we’ll be talking about today.

There’s the pedigree: how long has the brand been doing what it's been doing. Brands come and go, they merge with others, they

We love a good soundbar here at Audio Affair. Ever since their inception they’ve been the ultimate hybrid product: bringing together AV and hi-fi, film and music, in one compact little package.

We also love Yamaha’s new multiroom system: MusicCast, which allows for an interlinking web of multiple types of devices to work together in perfect harmony (a completely unique system, and virtually without competition so far!)

What do you get when you put those two wonderful things together?

Well, you get

I have a couple of questions for you.

1: Have you heard of Yamaha MusicCast?

2. Do you actually know what it’s about?

Well, we’ve already covered both of those things in detail in this blog. And if you’ve read it, you know that MusicCast covers so many different products and devices (and lots of different types of ones at that!) that it was impossible to go into detail about the specific bits and pieces that make up the giant, interconnecting (and not to mention versatile!) web that MusicCast

You probably already gathered this... but... school's in! Now, you'd probably think this wouldn't even register on our radar. I mean, we're a hi-fi retailer. What do we know about school? Well seeing as most of us here are parents ourselves, and have been students in the past too, we understand how important kicking back, relaxing and (mostly importantly!) treating yourself at this traditionally stressful time can be!

... but don't worry, even if you don't have kids and you aren't a student, this

There are many reasons why valve amplifiers are widely regarded as the ultimate audiophile separate. To be honest, you have to be a particularly keen audiophile to put up with their inefficiency, their need for maintanance and their expense. But for all of that fuss, you get something truly wonderful: pure class A amplification. A warm, lush, inimitable sound which - once you've heard it - cannot be substituted.

And, quite frankly, valve amps ain't what they used to be.

... they're better. Much

Just a little while ago, Audiolab announced a new series, designed exclusively to replace the universally acclaimed 8200 series (which still proves to be one of our most popular separates series to date). So far, that series is composed of the M-DAC+, an exceptional audiophile-grade DAC, the 8300A, an integrated amp (with an inbuilt phonostage) that has absolutely blown us away... and now we bring you something truly special.

The 8300 CD.

So, what do we know so far? It's a CD player based on

First, there was the Blade. A revolutionary pair of KEF speakers that took the hi-fi world by storm. Likened as the 'super cars of loudspeakers', the Blades were the world's first single apparent source loudspeaker with impressive sonic capabilities. Now... world firsts tend to come at a bit of a price. The Blades were indeed revolutionary and wholly impressive, much like super cars. But also, like super cars, scarcely anyone could actually afford them.

Well, now the Blade 2 has landed, that's

Hands up, who liked Audiolab's 8200 series? If feedback is to be believed (and it always is!) the 8200 series was incredibly popular, so the odds are it's quite a lot of you!  Well, the bad news is: the 8200 series and all of its wonderful separates are being discontinued. But the good news is, it's all being replaced by something that moves everything up a scale: the 8300 series! we've already talked about the rather amazing new M-DAC+ (a continuation of the rather legendary M-DAC) so now it's