Hi-Fi Choice

Inside our March Issue: The way we listen to music and the audio equipment we aspire to is continuously evolving. A quick glance through the pages of this month’s issue demonstrates that there are plenty of new products emerging to grab the attention of serious music fans, but many break with what hi-fi aficionados would consider to be traditional components. Take this month’s exclusive review of Acoustic Energy’s AE1 Active standmount loudspeaker, which takes the iconic AE1 design – celebrating 30 years since its introduction – and has evolved it into a truly active loudspeaker for next-gen audio fans. Active speakers have traditionally been the staple of the pro audio sector, with few models making the crossover to the domestic market as home hi-fi fans prefer the potential upgrade flexibility that’s offered by a separate amplifier, rather than opting for a speaker design with dedicated amplification built in.

When is a replacement not a replacement? This slightly abstract question comes about as a result of the loudspeaker you now see before you. When PMC started work on the twenty5 range, the intention was to replace the well-regarded twenty series models. But it very quickly came to the realisation that the speaker it was developing had the potential to be considerably better if the range was repositioned to sit between the twenty series andthe equally lower-case fact range. The result is that the twenty series continues as before with simplified finishes and a reduced price, while the twenty5 series arrives as a range in its own right.

The inaugural Audio Bazaar is taking place in Nottingham on Sunday 9 April. An ideal place to get your hands on pre-loved vinyl and hi-fi esoterica, it is expected to include a selection of modern and vintage hi-fi quipment and records. Taking place in the Clifton Leisure Centre, which is situated just 13 minutes outside of Nottingham city centre on he NET tram line and within easy reach of the M1, A42 and A50, the evnt is expected to attract enthusiasts from across the Midlands. A number of high-profile dealers are said to have already been confirmed and items expected to be on sale include turntables, loudpseakers, amplifiers, headphones, tuners, valves, cassette decks and reel-to-reel players, plus vinyl from across all genres.

PMC will be using the upcoming Sound & Vision, The Bristol Show, to announce that the high-end electronics brand AVM has been added toits distribution portfolio. Designed and crafted in Germany, AVM has been developing and manufacturing electronic equipment for over 30 years and believes that electronics must relay the purest emotions of recorded music, regardless of genre, dirtectly to the listener. The AVM product lineup spans three ranges: Inspiration, Evolution and Ovation. It consists of pre, power and integrated amplifiers, plus CD players, streamers, CD receivers and all-in-one CD/streamer/amplifiers.