Hi-Fi Essentials
Hardware and treatment for a system you already own: headphones, DACs, amplifiers, streamers, isolation, racks and grounding. The next purchase after the system exists.
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This is the upgrade section rather than the starting point. It assumes you have a system, know roughly what it does well, and want to work out what to change next.
The order that usually works starts with the mechanical foundation. A rack that resonates undermines everything sitting on it, so proper support and isolation come first. Then the source, because nothing downstream can recover what a poor source has already lost. Then the electronics, and last the treatments that sit around the edges of a system, such as grounding.
Some of what is here is uncontested. Speaker stands, isolation feet and a rigid rack do measurable and audible things. Other categories, grounding in particular, divide opinion sharply, and we say so on the pages where that applies. What we will not do is recommend something we have not heard, or call a component essential when your system does not need it. Tell us what you are running and what you want to improve, and we will give you a straight answer.
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From£37.50Ex. VATWith 4 different models to match the weight of your component or speaker, the OREA Series by Iso Acoustic securely and efficiently mitigates vibration, noticeably boosting the quality and clarity of sound produced by your setup.
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SALEFrom£165.83Ex. VAT
These multi-award-winning isolators by IsoAcoustics could be a significant step in unlocking the true potential of your setup. With three different models to cover a range of weights, as well as a handy calculator on their website (see below), these isolators will boost clarity and widen your sound stage.
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£5.82Ex. VATVibration damper for acoustically insulating smaller loudspeaker boxes.
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SALE ★ AwardAtacama
Atacama Apollo Storm 6 Solid Oak Hi-Fi Rack Inc. Base ShelfSKU: Atacama Storm 6
(22 reviews)£121.94 £141.66Ex. VAT ✓ Save £19.72The Storm 6 is not only a solid oak hi-fi rack, because it also features Atacama's isolated construction. The addition of isolation makes this rack perfect for reducing the ambient vibrations within your system and improving overall performance while stylishly containing your equipment.
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From£165.83Ex. VATComposed from dense, void-less fibre and coupled with IsoAcoustics' patented isolating foot attachments, the zaZen is an isolation platform designed for use with turntables, tube amplifiers and other sensitive HiFi components. -
★ AwardChord Electronics
Chord Electronics Qutest Standalone Digital Audio ConverterSKU: Qutest
(17 reviews)£1,041.67Ex. VATWinner of What Hi-Fi?'s Best DAC £500-£1200 & Product of the Year, Qutest is Chord's ‘pure’ DAC (it does not contain headphone amplification or rechargeable batteries like some of its range stablemates) and is designed to improve sound quality in the home. It is the latest evolution of their most affordable standalone DAC, the multi-award-winning 2Qute, which it directly replaces.
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SALE£94.99 £99.99Ex. VAT ✓ Save £5.00The all-new Cyclone series speaker stand features a natural solid oak base panel which helps minimize mechanical resonance and a centrally located tube that can be mass loaded to help tune the supported speakers. Available in Silk Black or Glacier White with a choice of Natural Oak or Dark Oak, there are three heights available; Cyclone 5 (515mm), Cyclone 6 (615mm) and Cyclone 7 (715mm). The standard top plate size is 150mm wide and 200mm deep. These functional, tune-able and attractive Oak based speaker stands offer fantastic value and will make a valuable contribution to your bookshelf speakers performance.
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£329.17Ex. VATThe Mojo 2 is a revamped version of the already-groundbreaking Mojo, now featuring a superior USB-C connection and brand-new menu system alongside reworked electronics. This new version does still offer compatibility with the Poly, as well as a double-output for shared listening and the superlative design that is synonymous with Chord Electronics. -
£29.16Ex. VATAtacama Atabites SMD-Z 7HD is a high-density zinc-coated steel inert filler for mass loading speaker stands. Sold in 7kg tubs, with a density of 4.18kg per litre. Compatible with most speaker stand brands. -
IsoAcoustics
IsoAcoustics Gaia Series Thread Adapters - Set of 4SKU: GAIA THREAD ADAPTERS
(14 reviews)From£16.25Ex. VATIsoAcoustics' range of thread adaptors make GAIA isolators compatible with speaker lines featuring more unusual spike thread sizes. These multi-award-winning isolators by IsoAcoustics could be a significant step in unlocking the true potential of your setup.
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£24.96Ex. VATThe AudioQuest Anti-Static Record Brush is the newest innovation in record cleaning brushes, offering a more effective solution to keeping our records in their best condition.
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SALEAtacama
Atacama Apollo Storm 6 Solid Oak Hi-Fi Rack - Individual ShelfSKU: Storm 6 - Individual Shelf
(13 reviews)£121.94 £141.66Ex. VAT ✓ Save £19.72The Storm 6 is not only a solid oak hi-fi rack, because it also features Atacama's isolated construction. The addition of isolation makes this rack perfect for reducing the ambient vibrations within your system and improving overall performance while stylishly containing your equipment.
