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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£708.33Ex. VATThe QPOINT Resonance Synchronizer emits a subtle field which manipulates all electromechanical resonances within its immediate proximity so that they resonate in unison with each other. By syncing these resonances, the QPOINT eliminates internal electrical noise, enhancing the coherency and timing that is typically lacking in even the most high-end audio systems.
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From£682.50Ex. VAT
The GAIA isolators are machined stainless steel units that incorporate IsoAcoustics’ patented design to provide a high degree of speaker isolation, while resisting lateral movement and oscillations, to maintain accuracy and alignment with the listening position. Internal reflections from the hard supporting surface are attenuated resulting in greater sound clarity and openness.
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£107.50Ex. VAT
Safety in transit is a primary concern for proud owners of Elear and Utopia headphones. With the Hard-Shell Carrying Case, Focal have developed an elegant storage accessory for their range of high-end headphones that provides not only protection but a style in-keeping with their product range aesthetic.
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£99.17Ex. VATIf you're looking for a cost-effective solution to safeguard your Audeze headphones during your travels, the Audeze Standard LCD Travel Case is an ideal choice. Specifically designed to protect your investment from everyday wear and tear, this custom-lined economy travel case offers reliable protection when commuting or on-the-go.
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£665.83Ex. VATThe Audeze LCD-2 Closed-Back Leather Headphones offer an unparalleled listening experience, providing real live sound with no distractions. Introduced in 2018 to bring the beloved sound of the original LCD-2 to a wider audience, these headphones deliver amazing value with a sound signature that is both captivating and addictive.
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£983.33Ex. VATThis series of isolation feet by Tungsten Grooves was created to efficiently absorb vibrations from your audio equipment, relying on the absorptive properties of tungsten to unlock hidden details in your music system. The W70-H33 is the middle child of the series, offering greater performance than the Mini Grooves but with a smaller profile than the W70-H47. They have a smaller top plate than their larger sibling, but the same diameter, making them an ideal choice if space is at a premium.
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SALE£1,249.17 £1,316.67Ex. VAT ✓ Save £67.50This series of isolation feet by Tungsten Grooves was created to efficiently absorb vibrations from your audio equipment, relying on the absorptive properties of tungsten to unlock hidden details in your music system. The W70-H47, affectionately known as the Fat Boy, is the largest foot in the series offering the greatest performance.
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SALE ★ Award£195.42 £224.99Ex. VAT ✓ Save £29.58The Atacama Evoque Eco 60-40 SE2 brings the latest technological upgrades to the award-winning Evoque range, featuring additional advancements in deflection channels and leg component design over the standard Evoque and Evoque Eco Special Edition. Improvements made over the SE are improved mechanically tuned leg lengths, advanced vectored resonance deflection channels, advanced bronze isolation coned spikes, and side edge contoured bamboo panels.
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£665.83Ex. VATAn all-new design, state-of-the-art specifications and a sound that soars – iFi’s NEO iDSD hi-res DAC/headphone amp is every music lover’s perfect housemate
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SALE£633.33 £832.50Ex. VAT ✓ Save £199.17iFi ushers in the New Year with the best battery-powered DAC/headphone amp the company has ever produced –the devilishly brilliant iDSD Diablo.
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£2,415.83Ex. VATStellia are the ultimate closed-back circum-aural headphones, both in terms of acoustic performance and the prestige of the materials used, such as the full-grain leather of the headband, ear cups and cushions. The full-range speaker driver with ‘M’-shape pure Beryllium dome is a concentration of innovations that lies behind this incredible listening experience, never before seen in closed-back headphones. Its frameless voice coil, combined with the properties of Beryllium, provides a moving part that is unparalleled in its lightness.
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£570.83Ex. VATThe new Limetree PHONO II from Lindemann Audio takes the highly-rated and awarded Limetree PHONO and further improves the internal circuitry for improved performance, especially when connected to an MC pickup. An added benefit for MC users is the customisable load impedance settings with the following values; 50R, 66R, 80R, 100R, 200R & 400R.
