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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SALEEssenza
Bassocontinuo Essenza Proton Three Tier Rack Special OfferSKU: Bassocontinuo Essenza Proton
£624.99 £824.17Ex. VAT ✓ Save £199.18High-quality audio structure with HDF shelves and turned steel equipped steel with rubber washers for decoupling and a load capacity of 40kg per shelf. But the Essenza is more than just a robust Hi-Fi stand, it has undergone scientific testing to optimise your system's performance. -
£1,833.33Ex. VATThe PS Audio Stellar DAC delivers reference-quality sound with the Sabre32 bit Hyperstream DAC and Digital Lens reclocking for jitter-free playback. Featuring DSD, PCM, I²S, USB, and a fully balanced Class A output stage, it provides rich detail and exceptional clarity. With its built-in lossless volume control, the Stellar DAC can serve as the centerpiece of your system, connecting directly to amplifiers and speakers for a truly immersive music experience.
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From£249.17Ex. VATThe WiiM Sound Smart Speaker delivers Hi-Res 24-bit/192 kHz audio with 100W peak power, AI RoomFit™ room correction, and a 1.8″ touchscreen for easy control. Stream from 20+ services via the WiiM Home App or your favourite apps. Use it solo, as a stereo pair, or in a multi-room system for stunning, flexible sound throughout your home.
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From£6,665.83Ex. VATThe DELA S5 is a high performance Japanese network switch with 4 SFP ports, 7 ethernet ports and front panel speed control for every connection. With the same solid chassis as the N5, it supports port disabling, colour coded speed indicators and flexible 1Gbps or 10Gbps operation. It delivers a notable upgrade from the S100 and S10 while remaining cost effective. -
From£40.83Ex. VATThe AudioQuest Black Hole GroundGoody is an RF-dissipating ground wire using direction-controlled 6% silver over Long-Grain Copper conductors and a Carbon RF-Trap to eliminate hum and reduce high-frequency noise in turntable and audio systems. -
NEWPlixir
PLiXiR Elite BDC Power Supply 24V/2A - Special Offer - Black November DealSKU: PLiXiR BDC 24V-2A Special Offer
£499.96 £625.00Ex. VAT ✓ Save £125.04The Elite BDC (Balanced Direct Current) Power Supply by PLiXiR benefits from two stages of regulation- an open-loop first-stage and a closed-loop feedback second stage. This means that the Elite BDC can scrub noise out of your power source, helping your hifi setup sing. Available in 5V/2A, 12V/2A, 12V/4A or 24V/2A configurations.
Please note: the 5V/2A version comes with a micro-USB adaptor, making it suitable for use with units like the Chord Qutest.
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£3,833.33Ex. VATThe 430HA is a genuine “tour de force” loaded with numerous state-of-the-art features. This fully balanced, pure analogue headphone amplifier uses a discrete transconductance circuit topology, selectable gain setting (14 or 20dB), an oversized power supply and a defeatable analogue crossfeed circuit. Rated at 667mW at 600 ohms and 8W at 50 ohms, the 430HA will effortlessly drive any headphone to its full potential
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From£49.17Ex. VATiFi's new iDefender+ has been upgraded with new circuitry and connectors, further improving upon filtering capabilities and compatibility with a multitude of devices. The iDefender+ now comes in 3 different varieties - USB A to A, USB C to A, & USB C to C.
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From£249.17Ex. VATThe iPower Elite was designed to deliver the smooth and silent power. It gives your streamer/DAC/amplifier all the silent, clean power of a battery with none of the hassle.
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£82.50Ex. VATIf you can hear a consistent hum coming through your speakers, whether playing music or when idle, then you may have multiple ground/earth connections in your system causing a ground loop. This ground loop can be fiddly to fix, however, iFi have come along with an intelligent solution to help solve this issue. Enter the GND Defender! By using a specially designed AI Ground Detection, the GND Defender can automatically disconnect the ground on your device if there is a ground loop, eliminating the low hum through your speakers. But it does not stop there, the GND Defender can even reinstate the ground connection to pass current if any faults are detected in your system. This ensures a safety fallback to help protect your equipment.
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SALEAtlas Cables
Atlas Zeno 1:2 Custom Headphone Cable - 4 Pin XLR to 2.5mm - 3m (Special Offer)SKU: Zeno - 4 Pin XLR to 2.5mm - 3m Ex-Demo
(1 reviews)£250.00 £358.33Ex. VAT ✓ Save £108.33Atlas Zeno headphone cables are designed to offer a significant upgrade over the cables bundled with even very expensive headphones. Brands typically using 1:2 (cable plugs into both earpieces) connectors include Audeze, HiFiMan, Oppo, Sennheiser, Ultrasone, HiFiMan & Mr Speakers (Some brands may use more than one type of connection depending on model).
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From£495.83Ex. VATThe Elite BDC (Balanced Direct Current) Power Supply by PLiXiR benefits from two stages of regulation- an open-loop first-stage and a closed-loop feedback second stage. This means that the Elite BDC can scrub noise out of your power source, helping your hifi setup sing. Available in 5V/2A, 12V/2A, 12V/4A or 24V/2A configurations.
Please note: the 5V/2A version comes with a micro-USB adaptor, making it suitable for use with units like the Chord Qutest.
