The associated gear is as follows: Naim XS integrated amplifier, Sony SCD-XA5400Es, Wireworld Eclipse V 1M ICs, and Monster Cable M 2.4 speaker cable. The speakers are mounted on Sanus Ultimate Support 26″ speaker stands. As far as cables are concerned, frankly I’ve auditioned a lot of speaker cables and been underwhelmed by most of them so until I find something better that’s also proportionate cost wise these are my reference.

The synergy in the system is uncanny. As I listen, there isn’t much I can find that I would change. The Sony plays SACD and CD with a level of energy and excitement I’ve never heard from anything anywhere near its price and the Naim XS is neutral and dynamic with the ability to unravel the complexity of music with ease. Together with the speakers, this is quite a trio.

Soundstaging is staggering. It’s such an imbalance between what you see and what you hear that at times it’s hard to make sense of. The Tablette’s big brothers, the Response D18s are sitting a few feet out from them on either side, static. But there are times where someone who didn’t know better would sware they’re hooked up as well. The height is just as impressive. On the 26″ stands the Tablettes total height is about an inch and a half shorter than the D18s but the center image hovers well above the cabinets themselves.

One of the shocking aspects of these speakers is their dynamic capability. As small as they are, they pack a punch. I don’t necessarily mean this is a window-rattling sort of way, rather transients such as snare drums have the type of sharp, tactile feel that they should but often don’t. The top end is lively but smooth. When they’re called on to be bright, they have stunning energy, the rest of the time they’re smooth, textured, delicate and airy.

Midrange is very much like the top-end. Energetic when necessary while also capable of delivering nuance and depth. I’m hearing music unraveled as I haven’t before. It’s not necessarily that I’m hearing new detail (although at times I do), I’m hearing it as intended; in correct space and appropriate amplitude.

Bass is good, as long as I remember these speakers are small. They play low              (-6db @35Hz according to Proac) but they’re not going to make pant legs flap. In the correct room (mine is a little large for them and they not all that close to the back wall) they will be more than sufficient. What they do down low they do very well but it can be hard to remember these speakers are as small they are when soundstaging and overall dynamics are taken into account. Overall, the bass is nimble and quick enough to compliment the rest of the range with appropriate weight and dynamics. Still, although I have yet to try; a pair of well-integrated subs (I’ll be trying them with the JL F112s or F113s soon) provide interesting food for thought. Don’t get me wrong, subs aren’t necessary, just intriguing.

Overall, I couldn’t be more excited about these speakers. They excel everywhere a fine loudspeaker should… They do well with everything from Rock, to Hip-Hop, to Jazz and I’m sure that they’d be equally adept with Classical (thought I have to admit my collection’s thin). They have life, depth and a seductive, vibrant glow that is intoxicating. When price is taken into consideration they’re even more impressive. The exact system I am listening to, well-appointed with additions such as Sonos, Rega DAC, Salamander rack and cables can still be had for less than 10K. One would be extremely hard pressed to do better for anywhere near this price. This system should bring enjoyment to whomever listens to it.

So, drop me a line if you’re interested, Schedule an audition, bring some music and prepare to be pleasantly shocked.

micah@avidhometheater.com

Obviously we don’t have control over every aspect of what is causing the decline in good audio but I think the industry as a whole can do more to expose its self so that more prospective audiophiles can learn about it.

So, in this blog will be my most transparent, uncolored view on a products that we represent that I believe to be special enough to transcend the me-too products and untrained ears and help bring good sound to new and existing audiophiles.

We encourage your feedback and help in creating a forum that can be enjoyable for audiophiles, budding audiophiles and folks that want to learn about good sound.

Here’s the scoop!

SuperUniti becomes the third
all-in-one player to be added to the Uniti family.  It shares the same
feature set as its smaller sibling, the award-winning and popular UnitiQute,
adding to it a more powerful 80W amplifier and hi-res 24bit/192kHz streaming
capability.

All this is encased in a
NaimUniti-sized case with a Classic Series fascia.  Then consider the
SuperUniti’s pedigree: while very much a part of the Uniti range, offering the
same all-in-one functionality of its Uniti player siblings, SuperUniti’s design
also borrows from Naim’s SuperNait, NDX, and DAC, resulting in a seriously
audiophile offering within a single elegant case.

Features of the
SuperUniti include:

➢        UPnP
streaming up to 24bit/192kHz from any hard disc server, network attached
storage (NAS), or computer on the network

➢        FM/Internet
Radio w/vTuner 5

➢        Front-panel
USB input

➢        Apple
Authenticated for digital output and control from iPod

➢        Six
24bit/192kHz-capable S/PDIF digital inputs (BNC, RCA, 3x optical, and front
panel optical)

➢        3.5mm
front panel input that supports both digital and analog sources

➢        Three
analog inputs (DIN, RCA, and 3.5mm front panel)

➢        Two
analog outputs (DIN and RCA)

➢        80wpc
into 8Ω

➢        Control
via front panel, IR remote, or n-Stream app

➢        Wi-Fi
antenna

➢        File
formats supported: UPnP – WAV, FLAC, MP3, Windows Media, and AAC; USB – WAV,
FLAC, MP3, Windows Media, AIFF, ALAC/Apple Lossless, and Ogg Vorbis

➢        Gapless
playback on all supported file formats

➢        Zero
S/PDIF jitter

➢        16x
oversampling w/Naim custom designed Digital Filtering and Integer Upsampling

➢        Automatically
switches to asynchronous sample rate conversion if input is out of
specification

➢        Memory
buffered digital input

➢        Dual-stage
discrete resistor-ladder volume circuit

➢        Front
panel logo mute

➢        Separate
linear power supplies for control, DSP, DAC, analog, and amp ch. 1 & 2

➢        Ground
selector switch

➢        Burr
Brown DAC

The 80″ may be a good alternative to inexpensive front projection especially in applications where there is a lot of ambient light.

When considering that the next closest flat panel above 80″ is the Panasonic Pro Plasma which costs significantly more than twice the price, we’re excited about this TV.

I’m sure we’ll see 3D versions at some point but as these two new TVs are still about 30 days from shipping it could be a bit of a wait.

Please contact Avid if you’re interested in learning more about the new Sharp 70″ and 80″ Aquos LED TVs.

After being in the Custom Home Theater and Automation business for seven years, I’m excited to be able to offer high-end audio, 2-channel stereo systems and solutions.

I’m Micah, the owner of Avid Home Theater, and although I enjoy Home Theater and automation, I’m a huge music-lover and hi-fi freak at heart. So, taking on new lines and offering high-end audio solutions to folks in the East Bay who don’t necessarily want to drive to Berkeley or San Francisco to hear good sound is something I’ve always wanted to do.

We’re proud to offer products from well-known manufacturers like Naim Audio, Rega, ProAc, Sony ES and more. What we will be doing is focusing a little bit less on individual pieces and more on the sum of the parts. In other words, If you want to audition a Naim XS integrated amp, Rega DAC, or a pair of ProAc Tablette Anniversary Speakers we can help you with that but our main focus will be creating complete, turn-key solutions for music lovers who, like myself also appreciate great sound.

Synergy is key and we spend hours listening in order to create systems greater than the sum of their parts. We also focus on creating systems that work in real-world applications like rooms with windows and furniture, rather auditioning in a perfect acoustic environment which won’t translate to the way most customers will experience systems in their home.

We create systems that sound organic, natural and infinitely listenable rather than deconstructing the sound piece by piece because we believe a good audio system is a conduit through which music should be allowed to emerge as intended by the artist. The right system will allow you to connect with your music in such a way as to raise goosebumps and evoke a visceral, emotional reaction. This is what makes Hi-Fi unique and fun.

I enjoy audio. It’s a hobby as much as it is a profession and I’m happy to take time to talk about it with other audiophiles and music lovers. We’re also open to suggestions so if you’re interested in a product we may not carry, let us know! Our intention is to create a different, relaxed, honest experience and get back to what matters, the enjoyment of good audio.

Hi-Fi is not dead. MP3 didn’t kill good sound, streaming media can be enjoyable and your library can be convenient and still sound beautiful. A tiny percentage of the population has experienced music in all of its potential but good sound is making a resurgence and we’d love to share it with as many people as we can!

Stay tuned to our blog for more and make sure you join in on the conversation! We look forward to hearing from you.

The purpose of Our Blog is to keep you updated on news and trends in the Home Theater, Automation and 2 Channel Stereo markets. We’ll also share our insights on new products to help you make the best decisions for your unique system(s).

We are always open to comments, and encourage you to subscribe to this blog as we will be posting on a regular basis.