INFO SONXPLUS - MONTREAL AUDIO SHOW WEEKEND: Christian's affordable suggestions.

Audio devices are so good! They allow us to hear bells in the treble while the bass is sometimes round and sometimes sharp, making our insides shake. The stereo dispersion is so wide that it comes from all sides while the voices, you'd swear they're there with us! In a series of articles celebrating the great return of the MONTREAL AUDIO SHOW, we looked at the technological side of our equipment. Now it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty and figure out what we should get. First, I will suggest the best buys at good prices, followed by a second article on no-compromise purchases.

Here is my selection of great values!

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO

AX-A25 - $449.95

The Cambridge AX-25 integrated amplifier is a find in itself. For only $449.95, you get something unique. Competing amplifiers cost twice as much or more when you add a toroidal transformer for sustained power. The power-fed construction versus the use of capacitors as a backup totally changes the behavior of the beast! Less clipping distortion during sustained musical passages, better control of the damping induced in the speakers gives you a cleaner and more detailed sound. It's perfect for taking your first steps into high fidelity. (come and listen to it, you'll be surprised)

AX-C35 - $559.95

Despite inflation, this CD player remains an excellent value at $559.95. In fact, the pedigree of the AX-C35 with its Wolfson Microelectronics WM8524 decoder chip gives stunning results!

Distorsion : <0,006 % et réponse de fréquence très linéaire n’excédant pas 0,4 décibel sur toute la gamme audible de 20 à 20 000 Hz très polyvalent, il fera la lecture de CD, mais aussi de MP-3 et WMA gravé sur CD-R. À mon humble avis, ce lecteur propose le son le plus naturelle qui soit permis hors d'un disque compact...

AX-R100 - $799.95

A lot of power for a few pesos! In fact, we're talking $799 Canadian for a 200 watt R.M.S amp built on a toroidal platform. It is very versatile with integrated Bluetooth reception and a DAC decoder pushing the note up to 32 bits on 192 kHz! The Bluetooth is modern in version 5.0 and there is even a subwoofer output for connecting a subwoofer.

 PARADIGM

ATOM MONITOR SE - $359.98

Normally, entry-level speakers do not benefit from much...

Stop it! The tweeter for the high frequencies is derived from the more expensive series of the brand, which guarantees a clear sound, while for the low frequencies we use high-performance mineral-filled polypropylene cones with light and rigid inverted dust caps. Good sound at a good price!

MONITOR 6000 SE - $1099.98

Our best seller in the category! I like the narrow configuration of this box which allows for good results while remaining fairly unobtrusive in the background. Perfect for home theater with power to spare. Good price and 5 year warranty.

PREMIER 100 - $1099.99 pair.

It's no secret that I'm an audiophile and this box is great! The new Premier series was developed to fill the gap between the very affordable "Monitor" and the uncompromising "Prestige or Founder". The result is a speaker that is affordable, but "sounds" high-fidelity. I wholeheartedly recommend the Premier Series as a superior value on the market today. The Premier 100s are made entirely in Canada, which gives them an audio signature that is tailored to Canadian tastes. The technologies used are derived from the very high end Persona series such as the "PPA" which directs the sound in front of the diaphragm towards the listener and the "ART", a bass diaphragm surround which reduces distortion by 50% and increases the capacity in the bass by 3 decibels...   

DENON

PMA 600NE. - 649,95 $

Denon has now been in existence for 112 years!

This amplifier is a definite value with an adequate 140 watts of total power and proven design techniques. Built-in Bluetooth, separate circuitry with separate transformer outputs, even digital processes can be disabled for direct, clean and accurate amplification. And what about the price!

DP-300F - $559.95

Denon is not well known for its turntables, at least in Quebec! The DP-300F is a fully automatic turntable, which makes it desirable because many manufacturers no longer offer this feature. In simple terms, you simply place your vinyl and press "Start", the record will be played in its entirety without any manipulation and at the end, the arm will return to its place for another play. Everything else is there, solid aluminium platter with quality needle cartridge.

HOME 150 - $399.99

The Home 150 offers networked music in the same way as Sonos. The difference, however, lies in its ability to play streaming files of much higher quality. 192 kHz flac is played here, and you can hear it. It is now possible to build a 5.1 home theatre system using the 550 bar and Denon Home Sub. Backlit touch button with hand movement detection...

DRA-800H - $899.95

This integrated model offers modernity in a stereo receiver for high-fidelity enthusiasts. Power wise, it's 200 watts in total. This AM/FM receiver incorporates a DAC that can read DSD and high-performance FLAC, Bluetooth reception, Heos transmission that can communicate with all Home series products, and HDMI cable connectivity. And that's not all! It broadcasts via Bluetooth for listening with a wireless headset and incorporates google voice assistant, Alexa and Apple Home pod. It is complete! only shadow in the picture, it is often in back ordered (out of stock) not surprising!

FOCAL

CHORA 806 - $1298.99

Focal is the most recognized brand in the world for its prestigious works such as the Grand Utopia at $300,000 a pair! It's a good thing that the brand offers its expertise at affordable prices. The Chora Series is brand new (2019) and still features its famous Inverted Dome Tweeter that renders a stunning spatial effect. Listening to a Focal box is special in that it gives the illusion that the sound is coming from further away than the distance between the two boxes. The bass membrane is made of a material called Slatefiber which gives rigidity and lightness at the same time. The sound is clear and uncluttered. Choice of colour and finish for all decors. Good stuff!

SIB EVO 2.0 - $649.99

The Sib EVO is a very compact speaker for cinema use, but can also be used for stereo. The soundtrack perfectly reproduces all the details of the music, but also the presence of the voices and the intensity of the action and emotion. It can be easily hung on the wall...

YAMAHA

NP-S303 - $549.99

Introducing our most affordable network player. Enjoy the music stored on your PC, music from your smartphone or from one of the many streaming services, all in one device. Network players are the future with their Bluetooth connectivity, streaming of high-resolution services like Deezer or Spotify and the ability to play files on USB sticks. You'll rejuvenate your current set in one fell swoop.

CD-S303 - $559.95

New for 2021-22, the CDS-303 incorporates an external USB drive that detects up to 24-bit - 192Khz resolution. The 3-line display is now adapted to read Hi-Rez files with more information to be read by the listener.

SUBWOOFER CATEGORY.

YAMAHA NS-SW050 - $399.99

Our least expensive sub, it still features an 8-inch driver for deep bass. With 50 effective watts, it is

recommended for small rooms.

 PARADIGM DEFIANCE V10 - $749.99

The best buy on the market at this price! Paradigm specialises in the active calibration technologies included in Anthem's high end products as well as in many of its amplified ultras. Basically, you can use the optional PBK (for perfect bass) microphone and calibrate the output for your particular room. In addition, the Defiance subwoofers connect via Bluetooth to an app that allows you to manage your sub remotely. This remote management is great, as it allows you to get the sound you want where you listen faster without having to go back and forth to the speaker to adjust it. I recommend it without reservation. Also available in 8, 12 and 15 inch sizes.

CAMRIDGE X201 - $549.99

The X-201 is very stylish and elegant with a choice of piano black or white lacquer finish. It uses reflex technology with a passive diaphragm to increase efficiency. Surprisingly small in size.

FOCAL CUB EVO - $779.00

Less known for its subwoofers, Focal offers here a 200 watt R.M.S Class D amplified 8". The performance is good and it is designed for use with small speakers. The frequency response goes down to 35 Hz so no worries, we will hear a low sound perfectly adapted to small speakers.

Closing remarks.

We had a wonderful audio show in Montreal on the weekend of March 25-27, 2022. Many people appreciate what is on display, but lament the astronomical prices that accompany the top of the line electronics. For most of us, however, we have to be realistic about the fact that we are not dealing with cathedrals, but with human-sized rooms. The purpose of my guide has been to show you that you can spoil yourself without breaking the bank. All products, with a few exceptions, are available for listening at our Chambly shop. Be curious and come and listen to them, you could leave with a new treat!

I am working on a small summary for our very high end for those interested, it will follow shortly!

Stay tuned!

- Christian