We've fallen for a pair of true European beauties with a beautiful singing voice..No not Carla Bruni and her sister but the Aedle VK-1's. 

Read the review in this months Hi Fi Choice and you can start your own affair here:- http://tomtomaudioshop.com/store/…

Matt from Chord was with us today, running us through their new ethernet cables. Compared to a standard patch lead the entry C Stream was a revelation, and the Indigo and Sarum Tuned Aray were just in a totally different league. If you are running a Naim streamer you have got to come and hear these cables, you will never know what your Streamer is capable of until…

Just like the Alvo Aalto Stool 60 upon which it is sat, the Neat Petite is a triumph of modernist, pared back design and truly deserves it's iconic status. In this instance less is most definitely more and this clever two way communicates the musical message like few others.

 The latest SX version is the ultimate iteration…

Neil B had this to say about his recent cable evaluation:-

"Then to the specific listening to the system with the Vertere in place. Well, to my ears the difference was marked. I found the detail of the component parts of tracks, specific instruments and minor ancillary parts to be astonishingly clear, yet also integrated overall into the music in a beguiling fashion. It reminded me of my impression when first getting the 500, with the same verve and viscerality characteristics, and…

Rega

Rega’s Phil Freeman told me that they were trying to stop visitors from taking the system too seriously this year. His reasoning being that trying to appreciate its finer points in a hotel room with high ambient noise is akin to test driving a Ferrari in a car park. As a distraction Simon Webster had brought along a variety of turntable components to illustrate the differences between models. They played an RP10 with its shiny RB2000 arm and the Apheta MC through…

According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, an event horizon is a boundary in space-time beyond which events cannot affect an outside observer.

In layman's terms, it is defined as "the point of no return" i.e. the point at which the gravitational pull becomes so great as to make escape impossible

Listening to the NAC 552 for the first…

I have been listening to Rega’s Saturn-R CD player/DAC for the purpose of a review in a certain audio journal and the experience has been so thrilling that I thought I’d share my impressions. To be honest I don’t know how they do it, how can you make a CD player that’s so engaging and exciting at such a reasonable price (£1,598). OK it’s not the prettiest of devices, in fact it’s finish is borderline agricultural, and the sound lacks the refinement of some competitors but its ability to…

Spotted this by the design critic Stephen Bayley in the press recently which seems rather fitting:-

Good Design Transcends the Throwaway Age

"The argument for good design is that it lasts for ever so needs no repairs. Artistically, it transcends fickle taste. Functionally, it endures. Economically, it keeps people employed. Socially, it creates respectful hierarchies and responsible supply chains. Or put it this way: no one has ever thrown…

Naim had hinted that they were going to unveil something special at CES in Las Vegas but not in my wildest dreams did I expect an amplifier of this magnitude. The Statement is the most outrageous product of the show and at CES that's saying something, it consists of one horsepower (746 watt) monoblock power amps and a preamp which are expected to be in production by July.…

This is a superb film interviewing three legendary guitar men, well worth putting in your Christmas stocking.

We installed two pairs of Kudos Titans for two delighted owners this week in this magnificent special order oak finish. Stunning in every respect.

When did you last buy a Naim Label release? If you have not heard some of the brilliant talent being signed to the Naim Label recently, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Pylo, Empirical and Sons of Kemet to name but a few, have all been signed by Label Director Simon Drake who has revolutionised the label's output over the last few years.

Music is in…

This is a simply brilliant record and one of those rare things these days - an album that totally holds your attention and demands that you listen from start to finish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tb2Ebf0gYI…

Should you ever make the pilgrimage to Salisbury, be sure to visit the Shrine to Flat Earth Audio (and original Naim factory) at number 11 Salt Lane...

...and whilst you're there you can treat yourself to the town's finest cod and chips. …

We were delighted to see a new record shop open in St Albans recently and we would like to wish Derek the best of luck with his new venture. To give him a head start we popped in with a Rega RP 1 and Focal Spirit One headphones for his punters to spin their favourite tunes...

...and the equally good news is that Empire Records is next to the best Cafe in St Albans -…