Next Friday the Sound & Vision show in Bristol kicks off the annual migration of the audio industry to the west country. This is the biggest event of its kind in the UK and the place to be if you want to see and hear new kit from a lot of the big brands. The following is a selection of the more newsworthy introductions:
ARCAM: see the FMJ A19 integrated amplifier and the world public premiere of the airDAC: AirPlay and a serious 24/192 DAC! ATACAMA: the Atacama ERIS ECO 5.0 SPECIAL EDITION hi-fi support will be making its world public debut. AUDIO SUSPENSION: making their Show debut with the ASU-100 wall shelf. AVID: launching the Ingenium turntable range and Pellar and Pellere phono stages. BRYSTON: hear the BDP-2 digital music player. CHORD ELECTRONICS: launches a highly advanced Reference-level network music player, the DSX1000. DYNAMIKKS! UK Introduction of the DynamiKKs! Soundcraftsmen Horn Loudspeakers. GURU AUDIO: world launch of the Junior loudspeaker. HEED AUDIO: see and hear award-winning hi-fi from Heed. HI FI RACKS: Launching a complete new range at the Show. JL AUDIO: Fathom Series subwoofers. KEF: showing the new Digital X300A computer speakers. KUDOS: Cardea Super 20 reference-quality floor-standing loudspeaker. LEEMA ACOUSTICS: World Premiere of the new Constellation Series DAC. LIBRATONE: making their Show debut with their amazing range of wireless music systems. LOIT DESIGN: exhibiting for the first time at the Show and will be demonstrating their amazing Passeri CD player. MCRU: launching the MCRU Music Server, Longdog Audio DAC and MCRU Turntable. MONITOR AUDIO: see and hear the MASS 5.1 system. NAIM AUDIO: first UK showing of the new DAC-V1 asynchronous USB DAC and NAP 100 power amplifier. NUFORCE: European show introduction of the IA-18 integrated amplifier. PERFECT SOUND: Taiwanese headphone specialist making their Show debut. PMC: demonstrating the new BB5SE loudspeakers powered by Bryston electronics. REGA: Hear the RP8 turntable (with Apheta MC cartridge), Aria MM/MC switchable phono stage, Elicit R integrated amplifier (working prototype on dem) and the Saturn R CD player on display! REL: showing two new subs, the Habitat and the R528se. SPENDOR: launching the D7 and A6R loudspeakers. VAN DEN HUL: return to the Show courtesy of Flamingo Audio. WILSON BENESCH: launching the Cardinal flagship loudspeakers.
Sound & Vision is at the Marriott Hotel City Centre Hotel, Castle Street, Bristol, BS1 3AD. The building pictured is not the Marriott but the rather more attractive Colston concert hall in the city centre.
Friday 22nd February to Sunday 24th, opening times 10am – 5pm
The Ear will be posting stories from the show on the following Monday if not before.