It’s spring here which means daffodils and cutesy little calves. And the arrival of some very special new components in the audio world. In our newsletter this month we feature...
Perreaux éloquence range
Well Tempered Amadeus Turntable
Meridian G08.2 and F80
Christmas treats from Tivoli and Grado
Perreaux have always been one of our flagship brands - not only because they are New Zealand made, but also because they deliver on their promise of performance and reliability that now goes back over 30 years. There is a personal connection there and over those years some of our best listening moments have been associated with Perreaux amplifiers. They have continually evolved and refined, yet ultimately remain focused on high quality amplification - this is their real strength.
Perreaux’s new website communicates these values, as well as all the information you want to know about the Perreaux range. It’s much cleaner and easier to navigate than the previous version - much like the Silhouette and Prisma products that we like so much.
And within the site, you’ll immediately pick up on the new éloquence models - Ever since the best selling 200IP dropped off the Perreaux range, we’ve been looking for an improved, high power integrated amplifier option. And we’re not the only ones. The éloquence series has been in development for some time now and Perreaux have been pouring everything they have into it - I’ve been given a sneak preview of the pre-production prototypes so can give you a good idea of what to look forward to.
Simply put, the two new models are very 2009 - by this I mean that they are making the most of modern technology and deliver high performance with many different modern sources, while still remembering where Perreaux have come from. If you look at the pic of the front panel display, you’ll immediately gain some insight as to the breadth of features in the new amps - balanced and unbalanced inputs, remote control, and an extensive menu system. What I’ve found out is that this is only the start - you can seriously fine tune the operation of your new Perreaux in many ways that I’ve not seen in ordinary amps - matching input levels, muting, gain and many other parameters - this may seem complicated but the end result is that you’ll have a system that performs to its best on all inputs - analogue and digital.
You can also see extensive heat sinking for efficient heat dissipation and enhanced reliability. Perreaux’s trade mark no-holds-barred construction is also readily in evidence with solid alloy front panel and the tactile nature of the design is further emphasized by the return to a large volume control that says, ‘turn me up.’
Looking inside the amps, the size and quality of the toroidal transformers makes an immediate impression - the importance power supply never diminishes and both models don’t skimp on this. In fact the 250 watt model is a seriously formidable beast - there will be very few other integrateds out there that will be able to claim to be the Perreaux’s equal in terms of driving ability.
Sound-wise everything I’ve heard and seen so far is very positive. We can expect more detail, better bass and there are refinements still being made.
We’re close to offical release and although the end price hasn’t been set as yet we do know the 150 watt will come in a little above the Silhouette series. There are optional DAC and phono stage modules - and I've seen these fitted - as well as a more serious metal bodied remote control. And the 250 watt integrated is considerably larger, heavier and has a number of features that the 150 doesn't and will sound appreciably better again. So with that will obviously be a bit more and you can tailor your options to fit your budget. More smart thinking from Perreaux. This will be the most important new product release from any New Zealand manufacturer in many years and provide very stiff competition for any imported product. Remember of course that Perreaux is primarily an export oriented company so the new éloquence is expected to foot it with the best amplifiers in their own countries of origin.
Stay in touch with us if you’d like to be first to hear this great new range of amplifiers from Perreaux.
Well Tempered Amadeus Turntable.
Every so often we get something that is a complete breath of fresh air - redefining sound quality and reminding us just why we’re doing what we do. You might think that vinyl is a fringe format but there has been a huge resurgence in the last couple of years and with it, a plethora of new turntable models. However few can claim to be new designs - we are literally re-inventing the wheel. However Bill Firebaugh, the man behind the original Well tempered Turntable design has rethought every premise on vinyl replay and applied both science and lateral thinking to the concept of a record player. The new Amadeus is like no other turntable and the sound quality is far better than that found in any conventional design. Yet it is both user-friendly and very affordable - especially when compared to other high end contenders. If you consider yourself any kind of music enthusiast you’re just going to love what you hear with the new Well Tempered Amadeus - find out lots more here.
Meridian
If the Well Tempered is our best analogue option, then Meridian is at the top of our digital preferences - We’ve been enjoying the new G92 DVD system since January and now there is the update to the very highly regarded G08 CD Player. The most obvious change is the move to the same slot loading mechanism as the G92 - you might raise your eyebrows at this choice but slot loaders have proved to be hugely robust and reliable - despite being found in cars and apple laptops (or maybe because of this) they are actually now the best choice for getting data of the disc.
However the really beneficial improvements are on the inside - Meridian have put a huge amount of developmental effort into both their new DSP7200 digital loudspeakers and flagship CD player and the new digital filter software in these contributes to a substantial improvement in the G08’s already class leading performance. Meridian are our players of choice - for both music and movies - and if you’re looking to make the most of new speakers or amplifiers, or replacing an existing player we’d wager there is none better out there right now - but come in and find out for yourself.
You’ll also see Meridian have completely revised their website.
One Meridian component that has taken us by surprise is the little F80 system. Sharon is particularly taken with this little honey - it’s a compact CD playing system not unlike the Tivoli in function, but delivering a far, far higher level of sound quality and aesthetics. She likes it so much that she has even done a new web page devoted to it for you to read here.
Christmas is not far away at all now and what better time to take a look at the Tivoli Range - we’ve made sure we have all the bases covered for the summer season, both gift-wise and for yourself. Tivoli’s make great presents - everyone wants one - and we make it easy with free gift wrapping, delivery and no-hassle exchanges if the colour or model isn’t quite right. You’ll find we have all the tivoli essentials accessories like carry bags, PAL batteries, chargers and the like all on hand so you’ll be able to kick back anywhere with great tivoli sounds.
We introduced you to the new Tivoli Networks Global Internet Radio in the last newsletter - these have proved to be the best Tivoli yet and we’re promised plenty of stock for Christmas - what better way to avoid the dire yuletide TV than with the choice of over 20,000 internet radios stations all waiting to be heard?
Check out our updated webpages for all the latest Tivoli options.
Grado headphones sound particularly good with both Tivolis and iPods. They may be one of one of our less showy brands but are remarkably popular - Given their low profile, slightly retro looks and models denoted just by numbers, it can only be the sound quality that sells them. Yet this is what happens again and again - they really are that good and great value for money. We’ve moved to broaden our range of models in stock and now have choices from the iGrado at just $99 right through to the RS2s at just under $1000. At each step there is an obvious and worthwhile improvement in sound quality - it might seem extravagant to own headphones that cost as much as speakers, but the sheer involvement and detail that works its way out of these is stunning - you’d be hard pressed to find any loudspeaker with such balance and poise. And having now sold Grado for a number of years, we’re very impressed with both reliability and backup, including the ready availability of spare pads. You’ll find more about our range of Grado headphones here.
Totally Wired Website recently added pages and updates.
Specials
Merdian F80
Well Tempered Amadeus Turntable
Quad L series
Loewe
Audio Analogue
Dynavector Cartridges
Grado Headphones
Also see our previous newsletter, Winter 2008
WWF Update
It was good news in May when the government announced further measures to save the Hector Dolphin from extinction. Some scientists feel that it is lacking in areas but a big step forward. On the other hand some commercial fisherman have declared their livelihoods at risk. Hence, they have been granted interim relief by the High Court on September 26, 2008 forestalling by the October 1 2008 enforcement of the Ministry of Fisheries’ Hector’s and Maui’s Dolphin Threat Management Plan. The relief granted was mainly seasonal and in fishing grounds where jobs were at immediate risk and no Hector’s or Maui’s dolphin populations would be threatened. It is fair to acknowledge the conservation practices commercial fisherman carry out. There is however, no doubt the Hector’s Dolphin is a very threatened species. Each Dolphin pack we give to you with your purchase helps towards further research. The Seafood Council argues that much of what the research thus far shows is unproven. We will loose our unique dolphin if we do not take action. To take action all New Zealanders must be confident of what the studies show. We appreciate your understanding and help with our Hector Dolphin campaign.
Best regards from Sharon & John at Totally Wired
Little Gifts with a big heart. Both the WWF Hector Dolphin adoption pack and the Music4Mauis CD make wonderful gifts. You are welcome to purchase either of these from us. NZ$ 30 for the Adoption pack and NZ$ 25 for the CD. All proceeds to WWF and Music4Mauis respectively. Please add another NZ$ 5 for our postage and packaging costs. Email your order.
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