Our Verdict: 5 Stars These KEF Wirelesses are way more than just active versions of the award-winning LS50s. They’re a complete system wrapped in a neat and brilliant package For Impressive clarity and insight Taut bass and strong dynamics Features and excellent build Neat package Against Some small usability issues When someone says the words ‘hi-fi system’, what do you think of? If you’re anything like us, you’ve just pictured a combination of separates comprising source – maybe a streamer, CD player or record player – an amplifier and a pair of speakers. If we could go back 40 years and ask the same question, we...
In September this year, Audio-Technica announced a new Limited Edition Red version of the ever-popular ATH-M50x. Reviewer, Matthew Jens, didn’t have to think twice and purchased a pair immediately. AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50X LIMITED EDITION OVER-EAR HEADPHONES I have a problem. I can’t stop collecting headphones. My Fiancé thinks it’s “hoarding,” but I still hold on to the idea that I am a merely a “collector.” Admittedly, I’ve started to lose count of the number of headphones I own, but it’s somewhere north of twenty-five pairs. This madness all began when I was starting out mixing bands in the live audio industry. I required...
Bowers & Wilkins’ first noise-cancelling headphones are the real deal. Tested at £330 Our Verdict: 5 Stars The PXs are a fantastic package, boasting excellent sound quality, successful noise-cancelling and a smart design For Transparent, detailed sound Excellent dynamics Impeccable sense of timing Clever, intuitive features Impressive noise-cancelling Good battery life Fine build Against Nothing significant Bowers & Wilkins’ performance in the headphone market is the sporting equivalent of a Gaelic footballer arriving in the Premier League and picking up the Golden Boot in their first season. Sure, there are similarities, but essentially it’s a different game with different opposition, different...
Score: 4.5 Stars Pros Tasteful design and robust construction Slick HEOS multiroom streaming Dolby Vision & HLG support Sparkling sound quality Cons Rivals offer more power and vigour Low-res menus Remote build quality Key Features Review Price: £429.00 7 x 145W power output HEOS multiroom streaming 4K/60p, Dolby Vision & HLG HDR support Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 and DTS:X decoding Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, internet radio, Spotify Connect and DLNA What is the Denon AVR-X1400H? Denon’s latest 7.2-channel mid-range receiver has an even more impressive set of features than its predecessor, the awesome Denon AVR-X1300W. Its snazziest new trick is support for...
You may or not be aware that we have now been in our NEW location coming up 5 years at 49 Hutt Road, Petone, Lower Hutt Our commitment to you is still the same… Our aim, very simply, is to satisfy all our customers so they will want to choose us again and maybe even recommend us to their friends. We only select products for sale that are really good quality – brands you will probably recognize; we stand by the manufacturer’s warranties – we won’t be dodging our commitment to you; and by fulfilling just those two pledges we’ll be here for you tomorrow and...
Pros Can sound better than a Sonos Play:5 Excellent mids Lots of wired and wireless options Cons Needs to be positioned carefully Subwoofer-style bass, not flat-friendly Key Features Review Price: £449 Google Home Wi-Fi Bluetooth Aux input Optical input Device charging What is the Riva Festival? The Riva Festival is a large £450 wireless multiroom speaker. It’s in the same price bracket as the Sonos Play:5 – and is from a name most people won’t have heard before. Confident. However, thee Riva Festival justifies its price through its even more realistic-sounding vocals than the Sonos, alongside a far more open approach to...
One of the best and most versatile headsets we’ve seen in a while. These cans are a revelation. After all my bitching and moaning in the last issue about how not one set of decent gaming headphones have come my way for a year, or more, these wonders arrive, and do it all. Comfort – check! You can wear them for hours and not for a second experience anything less than warm soft ear hugging bliss. Sound quality – big yes! Music is delicate and superbly balanced and defined, with tight bass doing what it should do and never making...
Score: 5 Stars Pros Excellent noise cancellation Adaptive noise cancelling totally works Comfortable, stable fit Auto-connect/disconnect Great sound Cons Charging case is a little chunky Key Features Review Price: £200 Wireless Noise cancellation Earbud design Adaptive sound control Charging case What are the Sony WF-1000X? Wireless earbud-type headphones are cool, but they don’t generally sound amazing. That’s because sound is often not the priority. The Apple AirPods, for instance, put a lot of emphasis on connection stability. The Jabra Elite Sport are designed for sports. But now we have the Sony WF-1000X, which happily take a sound-first approach. They’ve taken a few elements...
Denon AH-C160W wireless sports earphones review. After fuss-free wireless headphones? Find out why the Denon AH-C160W wireless sports earphones fit the bill. Recommended price: £149, denon.co.uk Category : sports earphones Our rating: five out of five Key features: -Great sound quality -Secure fit -Practical packaging In a nutshell: The Denon AH-C160W wireless sports earphones are a sleek and practical entry into the sport accessory market, using unique Earhook technology to make sure they stay firmly in place during your workouts. Why we like it: As far as practicality goes, the Denon AH-C160W earphones definitely hit the mark. They’re wireless, connecting to...
Well it’s that time again, time for the V4 & Rotary SPL & Sounds Alive Sound Off South Island Champs Nov 2017! Well our Timaru event was a great day!! A big thank you for everyone supporting us at South Island’s dB Drag SPL & Sounds Alive Event! This year’s round up it was good to see people entering this years event and taking part in the fun of dB Drag Racing. At the end of the day it is about two things, having fun and seeing how many dB’s you can squeeze out of your Car Audio Setup! The highlights of the day were Tim Ryan getting a modest 149.1db and not far behind, Tom Tamasese getting a 146.8db and also Blaise Beach a 144.2db, but the...
