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david berning amplifiers
 these valve amplifiers are unique, thrilling and have earned a mythical status. If you have been keeping an eye on the goings on in High End audio, you will know that these products are creating a mighty stir. The multi-patented design is outlined on Berning's website - and the next paragraph picks out the main features:
using a unique technology and design, these amplifiers contain no power or audio transformers, are run efficiently and drive pretty much any speaker - with delivery of valve strengths (purity, agility & transparency) without the traditional valve weaknesses (lack of dynamics, loss of frequency extremes and speaker drive/control, valve heat and maintenance).
this was of academic interest to most people when only the Quadrature Z monoblocks were available (at £26,000). Now, however, the new ZOTL Pre One and ZH230 stereo power amplifier are available for £7,500 each. This makes owning a David Berning amplifier a more realistic prospect for a lot of people.
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dCS SACD/CD
 Throughout the early 1990's dCS became recognised in the recording and mastering industries as a producer of the finest ADC and DAC units available. Today, dCS can still lay claim to the title "reference CD & SACD playback systems." The current, extensive ranges include:
Debussy - this new DAC is a high-end hub for computer & all digital media
Puccini - a high end CD/SACD system in one box - optional clock with USB input for computer audio
Paganini - CD/SACD transport & DAC, with optional upsampler & clock
Scarlatti - the uncomprimising reference system - CD/SACD transport & DAC, with optional upsampler & clock
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focal (jmlab)
Focal's mission is to produce the world's best speakers through innovative engineering and technology. The top Utopia range is now in its 3rd edition, and boasts state of the art models from a standmount all the way up to the outrageous Grande Utopia.
These are high-resolution and dynamic speakers, with massive headroom and easy to drive. The exceptional drive units and time-aligned, phase coherent design ensure the musical performance communicates both drama and nuances, with a very dynamic, expressive and coherent signature. Music timing and rhythmic drive are exemplary.
Diablo Utopia is the entry to the top range, a very capable standmount punching well above its weight. Next up is the Scala Utopia - a floorstander with scale and agility. Then there are 3 larger models, which are even more impressive if funds and space are available.
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MIT cables
patented design to preserve the structure & integrity of music Boasting more patents than any other cable manufacturer, MIT's range is certainly a technical tour de force. More importantly, their musical performance is a revelation.
Many informal/formal reviews will state MIT cables deliver holographic imagery, a wide soundstage and smooth treble etc - but that is not the point. Musically, they preserve and deliver harmonic and timbral accuracy, critical timing, dynamics and tunefulness. The result is a much more compelling musical performance.
Perhaps surprisingly, our best selling cable (deservedly so) is the clock cable bought by our customers hooking a dCS clock to their player or transport & DAC. dCS were the first to think this should make little difference, but after evaluations, have purchased a complete (reference) MIT loom for their system.
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MusicWorks
making music work, MusicWorks produce a range of power distribution and equipment isolation products that are designed to allow music playing systems to perform optimally.
Power distribution and equipment isolation are the foundations on which a high performance hi-fi system is built. A well set up system of good quality will easily outperform an expensive system set up with little care. MusicWorks can enhance the performance of almost any system, and provide benefits that cannot be achieved by simply throwing money at upgrading electronics.
The effectiveness of the MusicWorks power loom is extraordinary, and we now use this exclusively in our entry level system and all the way up to our £200,000 reference system.
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stillpoints
  Requiring little introduction, Stillpoints have set the standard for reference isolation. The extensive range starts with the universal cones, and extends with single component stands to the equipment support stands pictured right. Recent innovations have led to a number of chassis feet and internal devices which have been enthusiastically integrated into several manufacturers lines.
The Stillpoint cone, shown left, consists of an outer case (called the calyx due to its flower like petals that line the inner shell), two layers of ceramic balls and a steel pedestal. The system functions as a shock absorber, and changes vertical vibrations/resonances and into horizontal motion and absorbs it.
"Have also had a brief listen to the company's isolation platform and found my jaw nearly unhinged, so great was the overall performance."
Editor's Choice Award, The Absolute Sound - 2009
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