Monthly Archives: October 2017

Bluesound Node 2 is an MQA streamer which could well become the versatile centre of your home listening.

There can be little denying that music consumption and listening, in the 21st Century, has split between analogue purists coveting delicately set-up vinyl turntables and large physical collections, and at the other extereme, "media-less" systems making advantage of high-quality digital streaming services.

The Bluesound Node 2 is one of the very best Hi-Fi streaming solutions we've ever come across,

Sennheiser IE800s earphones update the highly acclaimed IE800 making one of the world's best earphones even better.

When the Sennheiser IE800 earphones were released, some years ago, they set the headphone/earphone community alight; here were earphones which could outperform many high-quality headphones with a level of performance which prompted some reviewers to declare them "the finest earphones ever made".

With a series of upgrades, we take a look at the new, enhanced, Sennheiser IE800s earphones...

Focal Clear headphones add an exciting new "mid-level" addition to Focal's range of high-end headphones, sitting between the Elear and Utopia.

French manufacturer Focal is a celebrated manufacturer of high quality, high-end loudspeakers and headphones. Offering professional studio monitors for the recording industry, high-end car audio, and Audiophile Hi-Fi loudspeakers & headphones; Focal offer a high-end audio solution for most situations.

Now, Focal offer the latest addition to their high-end

Sennheiser HD660s headphones bring a highly anticipated update to Sennheiser's famous HD650 line of open-back reference headphones.

Away from the limelight of the flagship "Orpheus", and the astonishing HD800, the Sennheiser HD650 range has been the "workhorse" reference headphone line for almost 15 years; itself an evolution of the trailblazing HD580 and HD600 headphones.

Finally, the long anticipated HD660s headphones are about to land; let's take a look at the headlines...

Sennheiser HD -

Tannoy XT6F and XT8F speakers reviewed and rated; Tannoy's hugely impressive Revolution series floor standers.

Tannoy's Revolution XT series of floor standing speakers have been collecting acclaim in the Hi-Fi press, receiving numerous awards and glowing reviews. Your author was understandably excited, then, to give them a "test drive".

Settling in once again to the very comfy sofa at Audio Affair HQ, it was time to see "what's what"...

Tannoy XT6F

The Tannoy XT6F and XT8F concluded your author's

Tannoy Super Tweeters reviewed and tested; are Super Tweeters a valuable addition to your high-end system, or are they overhyped "snake oil"?

Ensconced within the welcoming walls of Audio Affair's dedicated listening room, the opportunity presented itself to try a back to back comparison of Tannoy's excellent Arden Legacy speakers (read the review here) with Tannoy's aesthetically arresting Super Tweeters.

With a measured sense of scepticism and trepidation, I hooked up the Super Tweeters and

Tannoy Arden Legacy Series Loudspeakers reviewed and rated; the welcome return of an audio classic.

Tannoy's decision to introduce the Legacy Series, based as it is on key models from the 1970s HPD series, has raised a few eyebrows in certain circles. What relevance does a loudspeaker introduced in 1974, and killed off in 1980 have in the 21st century?

Settling in at Audio Affair's own listening room, your author set about finding an answer to just that question...

Tannoy Arden - Nostalgia gone

The remarkable Devialet Phantom loudspeaker, reviewed: Pitting the popular Phantom Silver against the Phantom Gold and experiencing the Devialet Difference.

Ah yes, it's Review Time! It's always a treat taking a pilgrimage to Audio Affair's beautiful showroom; situated in the heart of Birmingham's super-hip "Custard Factory", and bristling with tantalising tech and drool-worthy audio equipment.

Today's Audio Affair Blog is a special review of the incredible Devialet Phantom wireless speakers.

The

The Anthem MRX720 AV Reciever represents a superb price/performance ratio sweet spot in Anthem's range of true Audiophile AV Receivers.

Canadian amplification specialists, Anthem, specialise in providing AV receivers with the kind of build and sound quality one would normally expect of a high-end Stereo amplifier. No more is it necessary to ponder the quandary of multichannel surround "wow factor" versus audio purity; Anthem AV receivers deliver on both fronts.

The Anthem MRX 720 is today's Audio

QED QX series professional installation cables provide a safety and durability focussed solution to those in need of quality installation cabling.

Cabling: whilst it's not the "sexiest" of subjects, it's also vital to any Hi-Fi, cinema or sound installation. What you may not know is that there are very strict criteria regarding the safety standards of cabling professional installers are permitted to use in a domestic installation.

Thankfully the QED QX series of professional installation cables