The Bristol Hi-Fi Show was once again the place to be for all things two-channel over the weekend, along with a sprinkling of AV for good measure. There were just enough new launches to keep us busy, as well as the chance to see and hear plenty of products that have been released in recent months and years.
Budget and high-end kit was on show, albeit with a bias towards eye-catching gear with eye-watering prices, and there were headphones and Atmos systems in amongst the rooms of hi-fi systems. We were once again manning the What Hi-Fi? stand and demo room, showing off a Samsung 8K TV with a 7.2-channel B&W sound system, but we of course found time to get round the show, too. Read on for our pick of some of the best products and systems on show...
Acoustic Energy 500 Series
Acoustic Energy used the Bristol Hi-Fi Show as a launchpad for its flagship 500 Series of loudspeakers. The AE500 standmounters (£1000) and AE509 floorstanders (£2300) use newly developed carbon fibre tweeters, mid/bass drivers and are set to go on sale in the spring.
ATC CD2 and SIA2-100
ATC might be better known for its stereo speakers, but the company has been known to dip its toe into the world of hi-fi electronics now and then. Its latest offerings take the shape of the CD2 CD player and SIA2-100 stereo amplifier. They're due on sale in April.
Audiolab 6000-N Play
Centred around DTS Play-Fi streaming technology, the 6000-N music streamer is the latest model to launch as part of Audiolab’s 6000 series of hi-fi separates. There’s hi-res, multi-room and DLNA support, plus the ability to stream direct from the likes of Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and Amazon Music.
B&W 600 Series
While we're always on the hunt for what's new, the show is just as much about having the chance to see and hear the products you've been reading about over the previous 12 months. B&W's room is always popular and the new 600 Series was attracting plenty of attention.
Chord Hugo M Scaler
One of the best-sounding rooms at the show came courtesy of Chord Electronics, with some help from a lovely pair of B&W 805 D3 speakers. Chord's main focus was showing what its new Hugo M Scaler could do. This slab of electronics (it's on the top shelf, above) utilises Chord’s most advanced filtering technology to upscale 44.1kHz digital audio up to 705.6kHz – 16 x CD’s 44.1kHz native resolution – before it is passed on to the DAC. It's all about delivering every bit of audio information and it certainly sounded worthy of serious investigation if you have a suitable system.
Creek Audio relaunch
Creek Audio is marking its 37th year in the hi-fi industry not only by moving its production from China to Europe, but also by fully redeveloping its product line-up. At the show Creek was showing the Voyage CD10, the i20 stereo amplifier and the CLS6 speakers.
Dali Oberon
Dali was exhibiting its well-received Oberon range of loudspeakers, including the five-star Oberon 1 standmounters and Oberon 5 floorstanders.
Dynaudio Confidence
As well as a loud demo room powered by a serious stack of Naim products (in which we heard an interesting comparison between 16-bit and 24-bit audio), we couldn't help enjoy the sight of the new Confidence range in all its glory. A UK debut after its Munich launch last year, a set of each of these speakers would set you back around £100k, so you'd be forgiven for not wanting to get too close...
Focal Stellia and Arche
Speakers might have dominated the show, but Focal was flying the flag for headphone-based desktop systems with the help of its stunning Stellia over-ear headphones. They were being powered by the company’s new Arche, a £2499 headphone amp/DAC.
Fyne Audio F1-12
Fledgling speaker company Fyne Audio will be hoping to continue its success with two new speakers: the flagship F1-12 floorstander (from £23,999) and a 'Special Production' F502SP floorstander (£3500). Cheap, they're not, but they did look pretty special.
JBL L100 Classic
It's not the first time we've seen these new/old JBLs and hopefully it won't be the last. Whether you have the grilles on or off, we love the look and sound of these £4000 retro speakers. Look out for a full review some time soon...
KEF LSX
KEF’s room was awash with colour thanks to the company’s LSX range of powered desktop speakers. The company also had its R Series on display too, including the Award-winning R3 standmounters and R5 and R7 floorstanders.
Mark Levinson No.5805
Mark Levinson was showing-off its new 5000 Series of integrated amplifiers, including the top-end No.5805, pictured above. It weighs in with 125 watts per channel and features a 1in thick bead-blasted, black-anodised front panel, and Mark Levinson's iconic hourglass control knobs. The No.5805 is due to go on sale in the first quarter of 2019 for $8500.
Musical Fidelity M2
Musical Fidelity’s latest hi-fi separates were on display at the show. The M2Si is a no-frills 76W per channel stereo amp while the M2sCD CD player features a mains choke filter and digital noise filter. Both components cost £799 and are available to buy now in black or silver.
Naim
Naim had a trio of streamers on display with the ND5 XS 2, NDX 2 and ND 555 all running through a pair of Focal's impressive Sopra 3 loudspeakers. It made for a system that was very easy on the eyes and ears.
Pro-Ject T1, X1, X2, Classic Evo
Pro-Ject unveiled four new turntables at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show, priced between £230 and £1200 and due on sale this summer. The arrival of the new decks will simplify the Austrian manufacturer's turntable range, likely replacing the multiple variations of the existing Xpression and Xperience midrange models.
Rega Aethos
Lurking in the Rega room was a brand new stereo amplifier, the Rega Aethos. It’s a 125 watts per channel design that’s due to go on sale in May/June. Rega’s opted for the most pure analogue design possible, so only line level inputs, no DAC and no phono stage. There is a headphone output, though. Expect the Aethos to retail for £2999.
Sennheiser HD 820
Sennheiser had no shortage of headphones on display at the show with everything from the Momentum True Wireless in-ears to the high-end HD 820 over-ear headphones (powered by a Sennheiser headphone amp).
Sony PS-LX310BT
Launched at CES 2019, Sony’s new Bluetooth turntable, the PS-LX310BT was spinning at the show. The deck features a built-in phono stage, gain adjustment, 33/45rpm speed settings and is set to go on sale in April for £220.
Wharfedale Elysian
Wharfedale’s working on a new premium speaker range called Elysium, which was spotted at the show. The range is set to arrive in the middle of 2019 with a floorstander and standmounter priced at around £3500 and £2000 respectively.
What Hi-Fi? demo room
Of course we have to mention our own demo room. We were showcasing 8K TV, with a 75-inch Samsung 8K QLED and just about all the 8K content that exists. We were also showing off just how good you can have it right now with 4K Blu-ray and a 7.2-channel B&W sound system.
Yamaha MusicCast Vinyl 500
Yamaha’s all-in-one streaming turntable was on display at the show. Working over Wi-Fi, the deck can stream to Yamaha’s MusicCast range of wireless speakers, stream hi-res files over a home network and also comes with support for streaming services such as Spofity, Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz. It’s on sale now for £549.
All the Bristol Hi-Fi Show news
Wharfedale teases Elysian loudspeaker range at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show
Fyne Audio introduces flagship F1-12 at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show
Audiolab previews affordable 6000N Play music streamer
Acoustic Energy launches flagship 500 Series with carbon fibre drivers
Leema Acoustics’ Stream IV CD player to debut at The Bristol Hi-Fi Show
Cowon Plenue D2 budget music player supports DSD128
Neat Acoustics launches slimline Ekstra loudspeakers
