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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SALE£261.24 £274.99Ex. VAT ✓ Save £13.75All Evoque Eco modular supports feature 40mm Carbonized Bamboo with a choice of three interchangeable leg heights capable of supporting equipment up to 30kg (66 lbs) per level. The black powder coated high gloss legs fitted to the shelf modules are equipped with twin A.S.I.S.T (Atacama Sonic Isolation System Technology) dampening gaskets and carbon steel studs with aerospace grade Aluminium grounding components matched to full adjustable nickel plated 8mm steel spikes.
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★ Award
Chord Electronics
Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Transportable DAC / Headphone Amplifier - Argent SilverSKU: Chord Hugo 2-Argent Silver
£1,495.83Ex. VATThis award-winning Hugo 2 can be used both at home and on-the-go, either with headphones or within a conventional audio system. Its line-level output and full-function remote control adds real flexibility in full-size and desktop systems. Voted Best DAC 2018 - 2018 by EISA.
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£2,375.00Ex. VATThe QKORE is a parallel grounding device, which provides a passive approach to obtaining an artificial, “clean” earth for hifi audio systems. QKORE1 is provided with a 2M Banana to Banana QKORE Wire and furnished with one “QBASE Ground” binding post to ground your distribution block. Offers an effective ground on the primary side of the power supply.
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£3,325.00Ex. VATThe QKORE is a parallel grounding device, which provides a passive approach to obtaining an artificial, “clean” earth for hifi audio systems. QKORE1 is provided with a 2M RCA to Banana QKORE Wire and Furnished with three multi-use binding posts to ground your audio circuitry. Grounds system components on the secondary side of the power supply, where the audio circuit is. -
£4,750.00Ex. VATThe QKORE is a parallel grounding device, which provides a passive approach to obtaining an artificial, “clean” earth for hifi audio systems. QKORE6 is provided with a 2M Banana to Banana QKORE wire and a 2M RCA to Banana QKORE Wire. Furnished with three multi-use binding posts for audio circuitry, two binding posts for left and right monoblocks, and one “QBASE Ground” binding post to ground your distribution block. -
£491.67Ex. VATAthena is the result of more than 8 years development and tests. Entreq's goal was to develop and create a rack that really handle the special demands arround Hi-Fi and AV placement without any limits. -
£833.33Ex. VATAthena is the result of more than 8 years development and tests. Entreq's goal was to develop and create a rack that really handle the special demands arround Hi-Fi and AV placement without any limits. -
£1,333.33Ex. VATAthena is the result of more than 8 years development and tests. Entreq's goal was to develop and create a rack that really handle the special demands arround Hi-Fi and AV placement without any limits. -
£66.62Ex. VATThe Blue Horizon record mat keeps firm hold of every record played, whilst suppressing the resonance generated during playback. It’s dual-layer design makes it easy to adapt to different record thicknesses without needing to alter tonearm height (VTA). The result is the perfect coupling between record and platter – an utterly silent foundation, ensuring every drop of musical detail within the groove is delivered with unfettered clarity. -
£2,415.83Ex. VATThe Audeze LCD-MX4 Open-Back Leather Headphones stand as the epitome of precision and efficiency in professional audio equipment, merging the technological advancements of the Flagship Series with the proven driver design of the renowned LCD-X model. Engineered to deliver exceptional detail and sensitivity, these headphones are tailored for discerning professionals who demand nothing short of perfection in their studio or home listening environments.
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Chord Company
Chord Silent Mount SM7 Stainless Steel Speaker Isolation Mounts 70mm Pack of 4SKU: SMS0001.004.1
£375.00Ex. VAT4 x 70mm stainless steel spike mounts for speakers and racks. Hand crafted in Japan.
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Chord Company
Chord Silent Mount SM5 Stainless Steel Speaker/Rack Isolation Mounts 50mm Pack of 4SKU: SMS0002.004.1
£333.33Ex. VAT4 x 50mm stainless steel spike mounts for racks/loudspeakers. Hand crafted in Japan.
