2024 A busy year for sound lovers at Sonxplus!

It's well known that autumn and winter are the seasons for cocooning, when most people hibernate at home. There are outdoor enthusiasts, of course, but climate change sometimes forces us to stay warm and cozy at home.

Why get bored?

For great evenings out, opt for a good meal, a little glass of whatever you like best, and finish it all off with a film or careful listening to what modern audio equipment has to offer.

The watchwords: relaxation, respite from busy days, and escape!

 Here is a short list of audio products available at Sonxplus de Chambly. These products will be useful for making your home sound better than ever before.

 Before you start.

I'd like to share with you two top-performing online music services. All service providers claim to offer high fidelity, let's just say it's relative!

As I explained in a previous blog, the secret lies in the transmission of music data called "lossless", i.e. without compression. The methods that really offer this are called "FLAC" and "DSD".

The two services currently offering lossless music via Flac are Deezer and Qobuz. The others are far from guaranteed...

Deezer offers the minimum in terms of lossless quality, and is offered as an integral part of most network players and receivers on the market.

As for QobuzWe're in a different league here, even though the service offers a majority of musical material in "Hirez" for a quality similar to master tapes in studios! Drop in for in-store comparison listening, and you won't want for anything else, especially for less than $15 a month, the same price as less efficient services. The only hitch is that Qobuz is available on fewer North American devices, because it's too new to our market. Of course, you can cast or stream via Chromecast, but there's a loss compared to an integrated service. Two manufacturers are offering Qobuz in their products at Sonxplus: Cambridge Audio and Sonos, with others to follow.

 Our cinema receivers

Yamaha RXV4: Basic model.

 The RXV4 offers 5.2 sound for complete cinema listening.

This model, introduced in 2020, remains a safe bet, although the absence of a physical button on the front makes it less user-friendly.

 With 80 watts over 5 amplified channels aided by 1 or 2 subwoofers, it'll get the job done. Its 4 HDMI inputs and the possibility of installing Yamaha Musicast wireless speakers make it easy and practical to use.

699 $

Denon AVR-X1800: A home run from Denon!

This is excellent value for money, as this model is packed with features for only $999.

The AVR-X1800 offers 7.2 channels with the option of Dolby Atmos sound reinforcement. You can assign a stereo output to a second amplified zone for sound from another room or ceiling speakers. The Audyssey system allows perfect calibration of your home theater with the help of an easy-to-follow, self-explanatory TV interface.

• 7 times 80 watts

999 $

Yamaha RXA4: A little further, a little higher!

The RXA4 offers an increased power output of 7 times 110 Watts RMS. Versatile, it offers

7 HDMI™ inputs/3 outputs in 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz and HDR10+ for transferring maximum visual performance to your TV.

For Dolby Atmos, a pitch virtualizer simulates sound at height, while for online music listening, Yamaha's Musicast system lets you listen to radio from all over the world!

The RXA4 is a massive unit with a five-point suspension system for enhanced stability. The "H Cross" chassis makes it even more rigid, so that room vibrations do not interfere with the rendering.

The software components are first-rate, including a Sabre ES9007S chip for cinema audio decoding and management via Qualcomm QCS407. 4-year warranty.

1999 $

 Anthem MRX 740 8K: Nec's finest made in Canada!

It doesn't get any better than this cinema receiver (except maybe the 1140!).

11.2-channel preamplified output/7-channel amplified A/V receiver with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX "Enhanced". Continuous power of 140 watts per channel at 8 ohms. Includes ARC (Computer-Aided Room Correction). HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.3 supporting 8K/60 Hz or 4 K/120 H.

Everything is superior in terms of presentation, from the stainless steel calibration microphone to the exclusive red circuit boards! A fine, fine Canadian product.

You can configure your amplified outputs as you wish, such as assigning a second zone or requesting bi-amping for listening via very high-end speakers, because although Anthem's MRX series is dedicated to home theater, the components are of a nature to support true HIGH FIDELITY that few manufacturers offer.

A word about the ARC Genesis integrated software.

ARC Genesis is the latest software that works with many ARC-compatible Anthem and Paradigm products. New features include Mac and Windows support; new target curve adjustment options, including deep bass and high frequencies; an improved algorithm and much more.

ARC Genesis is backwards compatible with many Anthem and Paradigm products that are ARC or PBK (Paradigm subwoofer calibration) compatible. This third generation of Anthem Room Correction software represents a significant leap forward in room correction, with the most comprehensive feature set to date. ARC Genesis transforms the audio performance of compatible loudspeakers or electronic devices while preserving the unique character of any room. This software allows you to completely neutralize counter-effects in your listening room. We'll be happy to demonstrate it to you in-store!

  3699 $

Our stereo receivers

 Denon PMA-600NE: Small but versatile

The PMA-600 offers quality and power at a great price

• 90 watts RMS.
• Phono input for record player.
• Bluetooth reception.
• Digital decoder supporting 192 Kz at 24 bit depth. (Hires)
• Power transformer with two power and control outputs.

649 $

 Cambridge AX-R100: Absolutely affordable high-fidelity.

A best-seller with good reason, this model offers 200 Watts of power supplied by a toroidal transformer like those used by competitors at three (3) times the price!

The result is a sound that breathes ease with so little distortion.

• 200 watts RMS.
• Phono input, MM.
• High-performance 192Kz by 32-bit audiophile decoder!
• Bluetooth ⁵.0 generation.
• Subwoofer output.
• A/B amplification 0.01% distortion at 80% of maximum power. 

899 $

Yamaha RN1000: An audiophile network receiver/player combo.

Yamaha embraces modernity with this amplifier for a musical space of pure bliss! The R-N1000A uses a SABRE ES9080Q 384 kHz/32-bit DAC chip (from ESS) to deliver superior performance in terms of signal-to-noise ratio. The higher the cadence (384Khz), the more easily and smoothly the dynamic rendering is expressed.

Yes! The RN1000 integrates Qobuz, which I mentioned at the outset, whereas Yamaha does not offer Qobuz in all its products. Qobuz integration is a guarantee of serious "audiophilia", hence my recommendation of this model in particular.

• Wifi
• Bluetooth
• 200 Watts RMS with peaks of 580 Watts Peak.
• Low distortion 0.07
• HDMI ARC
• Absolute frequency response 10 Hz-100 kHz 0 ±1.0 dB
• Phono and sub out.

2199 $

 Cambridge Evo75: All-in-one British know-how.

 Here's a compact, powerful and affordable machine.

 Power of 75 watts per channel RMS - for room-filling sound.

ESS Sabre ESS SABRE ES9016k2m Ultra DAC chip - for precise, detailed musical performance.

StreamMagic Gen 4 module - for an unrivalled streaming experience.

Extra-large color display for cover art and music information.

Bluetooth aptX HD - for high-resolution playback to and from (headset) compatible devices.

Digital and analog inputs - including the new Evo CD, optical and coaxial digital, plus analog RCA input.

ARC input - for connecting the TV's HDMI ARC output.

Compatible with Google Home, Apple Airplay and Roon multi-room systems

QOBUZ INTEGRATED! For the home recording studio!

Cambridge is the choice of the writer of these lines, the Stream Magic user interface is fast and does not crash, the sound is faithful with a typically English sweetness. Pleasant and just the right sound!

 2999 $

Our Paradigm loudspeakers

Paradigm is a Canadian company founded by Scott Bagby 41 years ago. The brand's reputation is worldwide.

3 series are available:

 Monitor series

Affordable, this series is for the serious enthusiast looking for fair, artifact-free sound with solid bass and crisp, accurate highs. 

Atom Monitor SE

359$

Monitor 3000

859$

Monitor 6000

1099$

Monitor 8000

1999$

Monitor 2000

249$

Premier series

The Premier series has been designed through extensive scientific research. This scientific approach is Paradigm's pride and joy, as we are not guided by the sound preferences of craftsmen, but by the results obtained in test chambers and computerized comparisons. A future article will explain the ins and outs of this approach...

Premier 100

1099$

First 200

1299$

First 700

2099$

First 800

2699$

First 500

1049$

First 600

1299$

Founder series 

Lhe Founder series is the brand's latest offering. The hand-assembled components are beyond reproach, the angular shape of the boxes is fascinating, and the sound is unapologetically close to perfection.

There's even a hybrid model incorporating 1000 Watts of amplification that you can calibrate at home using ARC software. I can write a volume on these soundboxes, simply drop in and listen to them.

Founder 40B

2899$

Founder 80F

4799$

 Founder 100F

6799$

 Founder 120H The reference!

10999$

 Founder 70 LCR

2299$

SONOS: Wireless multi-room solution

Come and see us at Sonxplus, where a large part of the store is dedicated to Sonos products offering wireless connectivity for your soundbars, surround-sound speakers and stereos. A stand-alone amplifier can be used as a source for a loudspeaker system in your ceiling or outdoors. New to the store, a Sonos wireless turntable is available, as well as Roam and Move 2 speakers that can be taken outdoors without any wires!

Closing remarks.

So here's our first blog of 2024, a year we hope will be a pleasant one. For sure, if we put some music in our homes, we'll have the best chance of having a good one!

So, happy new year and...

Stay tuned