When Audio Research was founded in 1970, analog vinyl playback was the de facto music source of the time. Audio Research has either incorporated or built stand-alone phono stages since the very beginning and has continuously provided phono preamplification, even during the height of digital music.

The Reference Phono 3SE is the next great advancement in analog playback and represents a new benchmark. The knowledge gained in the creation of Audio Research’s award-winning Reference 160-series amplifiers has transitioned to both Reference preamplifiers. The Reference Phono 3SE continues the upgrades introduced in the Reference 6SE line-stage, including a number of new, ultra-high-quality parts judiciously incorporated into its design and ushering in a new level of sonic accuracy and musicality.

Due to the extremely low-level nature of the signals involved in a phono stage, the component and wiring upgrades incorporated in the Reference Phono 3SE combine to create a startling advancement in performance. The improvements heard immediately include enhanced resolution at all levels, greater purity and focus, improved transient speed and snap, and better dynamic shading. The sum of these improvements is exceptional, further breaking down the barrier between reproduced sound and the immediacy of a live event.

The LS28 has been a favourite pre-amp of mine for a number of years trumped only by Audio Research's Ref 6SE. But that Ref 6SE stays put (generally) in our reference system. It's the LS28 that gets moved around, played and loved in a whole lot of combinations. It was sad to see our demo unit go but it's gone to a good home where it'll be appreciated.

The new LS28SE has the same musicality and relaxed engagement but even more clarity, focus and quickness. It's taking the expensive gold coupling caps from the REF 6SE and the same wiring and parts upgrades that the REF6SE went through.

The PH9 phono preamplifier is a great pairing with most cartridge and turntable combinations.

A trio of 6H30 vacuum tubes are at the core of a simple and clear signal path to provide the most transparent preamplification possible.

Five different impedance settings allow for cartridge loading, which can be changed on the fly with the included metal remote. Cartridge impedance, tube hours, auto shutdown, and other features are included in the menu system.

The PH9 forms an integral part of our reference system and sits alongside the Audio Research Ref 6 preamp and 160M Monoblocks that power the Sonus Faber Aida 2s.

We currently run the exceptional Acoustic Signature Ascona Mk3 Turntable with this system.

The DAC9 digital-to-analog converter decodes most current formats with state-of-the-art vacuum tube technology. Five digital connections - USB, RCA, BNC, AES/EBU, and Toslink - provide connectivity to all of your digital sources. Quad DAC architecture provides a balanced digital signal, wide dynamic range, and decoding resolutions from red book CD up to 384 kHz and native DSD sampling rates. A pair of 6H30 vacuum tubes are the heart of the analog circuit. Both balanced and single-ended connectors are provided for output connectivity. Native-rate upsampling and selectable digital filters allow customization of the digital signal.

Now on demonstration this is the much awaited successor to the Ref 150 and incorporates the revisions that made the Ref 160 mono blocks the "best amplifier in the world".

This Stereo version uses the same four layer circuit boards that dramatically decreased the signal length in the 160M monoblocks. It has been described as like buying a pair of 160Ms but just buying one and getting the second for an extra twenty percent ...

With eight KT150 valves inside ... and not just any KT150 but a group of specially made and selected and matched ... this has the option of Ultralinear or Triode modes of operation.

Ultralinear gives double the power apparently while triode offers the simplest circuit mode possible with lower power and sweeter sound.

And the first review from "Stereophile": Stereophile January 2020 on the Reference 160S

REFERENCE 10

LINE STAGE PREAMPLIFIER

In 2010 we announced the Reference Anniversary preamplifier, a special limited edition product commemorating our 40th anniversary. It was acclaimed by many as the finest preamplifier available and a fitting tribute to all of the classic Audio Research products that were introduced during the forty years that preceded it. That we would only accept new orders for this special product during the anniversary year surprised almost everyone, but we considered the limited time frame appropriate. Since that time, we have learned a few things, and the result of that knowledge led to the development of the Reference 10. Included are critically chosen new components, proprietary custom-made capacitors, wiring, and new connectors that cumulatively provide a level of performance never before achieved. Key Audio Research design traits remain: The signal path is fully discrete, all-tube, pure Class-A, with zero feedback. Other attributes and choices remain, too: Each unit is completely hand-soldered and hand-constructed in our Minnesota facility using the finest materials, with major components such as custom transformers, plated-through circuit boards, and casework sourced locally. All engineering is performed in-house.

A convenient device that will make any system into a Aptx Bluetooth compatible system.

Aptx is the better quality Bluetooth. 

These little devices still won't sound as good as a high def streamer (that uses your WiFi connection) but are an affordable and easy to use.

A really interesting box design with a gently curved front baffle and an unusual 360 degree bass port system. The F500 is from the Tannoy school of design with a characteristic dual concentric point source driver that combines bass and treble for better stereo imagery.

 For a Premium, gloss finish $1895

Fyne Audio homepage for the F500 loudspeakers 

The previous Aries G1 has been superb but relatively Auralic has released a new model with some significant upgrades including a high mass base and it now supports Airplay 2.

The new high mass plate not only looks great but increases sonic performance as well.

Reviewers have been very positive with the upgrades for the new version as well. Jason from The Ear says when compared to its predecessor:

"what surprised [him] given that they aren’t that different under the skin was that the G1.1 sounded so much better. It has finer detail, is fuller and richer and even excels when it comes to melody, painting a much more complete picture of the music.”

Read the full article here

These days it's so hard to find a half decent small monitor TV. The Asian TV brands either simply start at 55 inch or if they have a smaller set, they are horrible things that look bad when they're on and even worse when they're off.

Also the last thing you want when space saving on a small TV is to find that you need a whole extra sound system to go with it because the in-built speakers are firing onto your wall and they're crappy little things anyway.

This is where the Loewe We. SEE 32 is different. It has an on board front firing 80W sound bar that integrates with the monitor looking just as stylish as the monitor itself. They come in a funky range of colours as well as a subtle grey to look the part in any room. Their build quality and picture is well above the competitors in this size of Television.

This unit comes with your streaming apps loaded onto the TV boasting all of the conveniences of a modern Smart Television. Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and Freeview Play are all ready to go and the remote control has easy buttons to navigate straight to them.

Come and see these units at our Lygon st. showroom and have a play on one yourself!

Black Friday Special available until stock runs out.

Exceptional quality for a 'starter' system. Your Turntable needs met with fantastic sound quality.

Rega is British owned and manufactured and have been a much loved staple of Carlton Audio Visual for decades. Rega started life making turntables and it shows in everything else they make. They build beautiful gear without compromise keeping it simple to keep the music pure.

Their turntables are consistently class leading and best performing for their price, their amps are rich and warm and a favourite with our customers and staff and their speakers are beautifully built and sound effortless.

All-in-all a great option as a pack to hit the ground running.

Rega System One Official site

What Hi-Fi? on the Rega System One

CD Players are considered an endangered species in the market so it might appear that Rotel are slightly brave to be releasing a new high end model at the moment. However in our part of the market CD layers are alive and thriving as they are purchased by people who have advanced and numerous CD collections that cannot be qualitatively matched by streaming sources. The Rotel 1572 CD Player is a good example of this ... although a plain jane disc spinner product it has intrinsic good sound and build quality that just keeps selling steadily. The DT6000 improves on that engineering for sound and longevity even further and in fact sets a new standard for a Rotel product in this category. The DT6000 is also a state of art Digital to Analogue converter that allows you to use a full range of digital sources as inputs without the redundancy of another external DAC component.

Aureder A15 is a do-it-all box that is transparent and revealing in its sound. If you value accuracy and want a streamer with all the bells and whistles, this is the unit for you.

It has a DAC on board and can function as a preamplifier as well. But if you have an integrated amplifier or a dedicated preamplifier you can bypass the preamplifier function by selecting direct out.

This unit has 2 bays available for inserting your own hard drives. Aurender leaves the choice of hard drive up to you. For some people 4TB seems like a huge amount, for others, they'll want it pimped out with a 16TB. 

Like any other Aurender, the A15 uses internal caching. This means when a track is selected it will be downloaded onto the internal SSD before it's played. Once it's in that temporary storage, you don't have to worry about buffering the track, it will play seamlessly. This system also makes things sound better by creating more isolation between input and output signal.

What we also love about Aurender units and the A15 is the internal tech support. If something's not working quite right or if you just have a question simply go to the link in the app and someone will sort it out for you. We've used this feature when we had an issue with the A30 playing MQA into the Audio Research app. Tech support in the States pushed through a bit of software that fixed it up instantly!

This is a premium media player for those that want the best picture and audio quality from their media source and not simply the mediocracy of an apple TV.

This unit supports lossless HIFi Streaming, as well as a true cinema experience for your movies. Better colours and more capable processing.

All of this is controlled via an IOS or Android app conveniently downloaded onto any device.

Roksan are a company that are used to making high quality, powerful stereo amplifiers. The Attessa is that and more adding connectivity and functionality. 

This comes packaged up into a slim, elegant unit that is an ease to use.

The Evolution of the desktop Radio is here! 

While this looks like a good-ol'-fashioned tabletop radio, the R2 Mk4 hides some modern conveniences. Including Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi streaming, Spotify Connect as well as class leading audio quality.

This British made unit has the warmth and styling of Burberry.

The R2 gives more sound and bass than the petite R1 and is perfect for where you'd like a stylish addition to a room that will start a party as well.

The R2 Mk4 has a optional extra remote for $35.

The AVR-X2800H is, like its predecessor, a class defining unit. This is a solid amp with features galore.

The AVR-X2700 was so good and so popular, they haven't changed much with the new version. But they have improved the sound quality. Bigger broader soundstage and a nicer high frequency sound. 

Read What HiFi's glowing review here

And see the full specs at the US Denon website here

This is an easy way to add Bluetooth capability to any amplifier. Included in this unit is a DAC as well so it simply takes an analogue input on the back of your amplifier to connect to. Additionally it does have a digital optical out for a digital connection.

Bluetooth will never be great HiFi audio quality, we definitely recommend switching to a WiFi based streamer for that. But this is an easy an convenient way to get your streaming services on any system!

Anthem AVM-70 is capable of 15.2 channels of processing. That's a hefty amount of processing perfect for serious high-end residential theatres. It comes with everything you'd expect of a modern surround processor: 4K/60Hz pass-through (8K pass-through will be an upgradeable option), HDR10, Dolby vision, apple Airplay, Bluetooth & Google Chromecast.

It's a great option for a full 15.2 channels worth of processing that sits at a slightly better price than the Marantz AV8805.

Read more about this unit at Anthem's own website here.