Hifi Pig

Adding to the plethora of streaming functions, the latest version of the MusicLife app from Arcam adds control for all modern Arcam components, including the forthcoming Solo Music / Movie and AVR550/850 Atmos AV Receivers.

Developed in-house at Arcam, MusicLife is designed to be easier to use, faster and more stable than other similar apps. 

In addition to standard UPnP functions, the app plays media from servers to any Bluetooth device, enabling streaming to almost anything paired with an Arcam miniBlink or rBlink Bluetooth.

Multi-purpose streaming and control

– Stream from Server or Computer to connected Arcam Hi-Fi or Home Cinema component

– Stream from iPhone / iPad to connected Arcam Hi-Fi or Home Cinema component

– Stream from Server or Computer to iPhone / iPad

– Stream from Server or Computer to any Bluetooth Device

– Stream from iPhone / iPad to any Bluetooth Device

Control the Media Player in Arcam network-based music systems, including advanced features such as playback of content stored on iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, library searching, sorting and shuffle & repeat playback.

Using an Arcam rBlink or miniBlink and the MusicLife app, you can turn ANY audio component into an iPad, iPhone controlled network music streamer. Simply plug an rBlink or miniBlink into any audio product device with stereo inputs.

iPhone / iPad / iPod Touch. iOS Only

At £9000 the Bespoke Audio Co passive Preamplifier certainly isn’t cheap, but this is a hand-made in the UK, luxury product that is not meant to be within the reach of the majority of people. Stuart Smith takes a listen.

“You can choose the configuration of your preamplifier to satisfy your needs and in collaboration with the people at Bespoke. Once you have decided on the configuration, the colour etc, they will then begin work on the preamplifier…a process that will take around five weeks. During this time Bespoke will keep you updated with regards the progress and even send you videos of your transformers being wound, photographs of the build and weekly updates.”

Read the full review

Greenwich Music Time returns to the World Heritage-listed site of The Old Royal Naval College from July 6th – 10th 2016 with a stellar line-up featuring an eclectic array of star names from around the world.

Still only in its third year, the concert series has quickly established itself as one of the most popular live music events in the calendar thanks to its stunning location on the banks of the Thames and an array of memorable performances over the years from the likes of Ray Davies, Tom Jones, Jools Holland, George Benson, The Gipsy Kings, Goldfrapp and many more.

Next year’s event looks set to push the bar even higher with the announcement of the first two headline acts. Greenwich Music Time 2016 will present shows from chart-topping ’80s pop duo Roxette, and the most successful UK jazz artist of all time, the Grammy-winning pianist and singer Jamie Cullum.

The final three headline acts will be announced in due course.

Greenwich Music Time Organisers Neil O’Brien and Peter Taylor:

“The Greenwich Music Time series is fast-becoming one of London’s must-see live music events. Our aim continues to be to programme an exciting and multifarious concert series and as such we are delighted to have two world class acts already on board for next year in the form of jazz superstar Jamie Cullum and one of the biggest bands of the 80s and 90s, Roxette. We will release details of our remaining three headliners over the coming months.”

Roxette perform on Friday July 8^th and Jamie Cullum on Sunday July 10^th.

Tickets go on general sale from Friday December 4^th

Box Design by Pro-Ject Audio Systems announce after many months of development, the company’s entire range of Stream Box components are now fully compatible with the TIDAL streaming service. 

As most will know TIDAL offers an expansive high fidelity music streaming service, and with the latest software update from Pro-Ject, the service’s whole music library can be played back through the Stream Box DS net, Stream Box DS+, Stream Box DSA and Stream Box RS.

Control over your music is managed by the free Box Control application – without any need to switch  between different control apps. Now you can browse, manage and playback from a library of 30 million songs through a compact high-quality streaming source!

Full TIDAL integration is included in the latest software releases for all Stream Box models and the Box Control application, and the software updates are completely free to new and existing Pro-Ject customers.

Pro-Ject Audio System’s Box Design range was created to satisfy the growing trend towards smaller high-performance audio products. In 2013 My Audiophile Integrated Amplifier, or MaiA that measured just 206 x 200 x 36mm (W x D x H) was launched. Now, at the end of 2015, Pro-Ject has introduced a bigger sibling to MaiA for their DS range. 

MaiA DS provides everything the modern listener needs… Three analogue inputs, three digital inputs, a phono stage, USB streaming and Bluetooth streaming. In addition there are multiple output options including a headphone socket. MaiA DS is a pre-amplifier, an integrated amplifier, a DAC, a headphone amp and a phono stage – all in one box.

Onboard you get a 60W per-channel Class D output stage and the PCM1796 Delta-Sigma DAC chip with 24bit / 192kHz high-resolution audio handling from Texas Instruments. The USB input uses XMOS asynchronous streaming technology and the input can also handle up to DSD256 playback (DoP). The 4th generation Bluetooth input is aptX® enabled to ensure the highest quality wireless streaming from a smart device. There’s a switchable MM/MC phono stage built into the amplifier which is based on Pro-Ject’s Phono Box technology. 

With the free Box Control Android application, you can gain complete control of the MaiA DS and any other Infra Red (IR) remote-controlled device in your system.* Heinz Lichtenegger, CEO of Pro-Ject Audio Systems, has said:

“We see that people like to control music with an app. The industry offers many streamers where you can control your music content very conveniently. But for your hi-fi amp, CD player or TV, you’ll often have multiple remotes or a very expensive control system. With our unique Box Control app and the MaiA DS it is possible to control standard analogue IR products without the need of a Wi-Fi connection!”

Box Control takes a different approach to other remote systems; so only core controls are accessible through the app, and each device has its own easy-to-understand screen – rather than a myriad of complicated options squashed into one screen.

SRP £699.00

The MaiA DS is available in the UK now in Black or Silver.

The Darkz d·tc resonance control is the first product release of Ansuz Acoustics’ new “ultra high-end line”, d·tc.

The Darkz d·tc are made of a heavy, and say the company, unique composite material with them saying “The material is a result of a process in a particle accelerator that creates an extremely hard and dense material structure, containing diamond”. The heavy core of this composite material gives the Darkz d·tc an impressive weight of 216 grams (7.6 oz.). It is this special material paired with the heavy weight that make the Darkz d·tc capable of “eliminating all disturbing vibrations from components found in a music system”.

Ansuz Acoustics created the Darkz to ensure that the different entities of the sound system are mechanically grounded. The new Darkz d·tc come in two models: Darkz d·tc Resonance Control and Darkz d·tc Cable Lifters.

The Darkz d·tc Resonance Control is designed to stand under hifi equipment, while the Darkz d·tc Cable Lifters are to be placed under cables.

It’s an interesting time in the audio world. Music, as a cultural influencer, is in a state of flux. Compressed files have skewed the knowledge of HiFi music, wireless has redefined users’ expectations and the audiophile market is at a crossroads. However, the influence of music, the connection to artists and the ubiquity of sound, has never been stronger. As such, this interesting time allows the right brands to stand for something strong. Something relevant. Something important. Something we know we can be.

As a result Fine Sounds Group is evolving to become WOM ‐ World Of McIntosh. “This evolution is a renewed commitment to all of our brands ‐ Audio Research, McIntosh, Pryma, Sonus faber, Sumiko, Sumiko Subwoofers and Wadia ‐ that will reinforce our position as the family of the finest audio brands in the world. WOM embraces and builds upon the heritage of its individual brands, each with a history of exquisite craftsmanship and dedication to the art of sound, to reach a new peak in luxury that gives people an unprecedented auditory and sensory experience. We know that in order to reach a new consumer, they need to know what sets our brands apart and truly makes them the best in the category. To achieve this, we will show them vs. telling them via our new brand positioning: THE ART OF SOUND EXPERIENCE” says the company’s latest press release.

To bring THE ART OF SOUND EXPERIENCE to life, FWOM have created a flagship Experience Center in New York’s trendy Soho neighborhood in the form of a multi‐million dollar townhouse for friends and fans of the WOM family to enjoy. It is a place where we can open the doors and invite people in to experience the products.

Mauro Grange, CEO of World of McIntosh, said “Our goal is to help educate people about the profound difference an ultimate quality audio system can make in their lives. The best way for us to do this is to simply let people experience it for themselves, with all its power and emotional connectivity.” Charlie Randall, COO of World of McIntosh and President of McIntosh and Wadia, added “We want to provide consumers the ultimate home audio experience – something beyond just an equipment demo. Whether you’re a longtime audio enthusiast or just starting to learn about the art of quality sound, the WOM townhouse and Experience Center will allow you to fully understand how luxury audio can enhance your lifestyle.”