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PUTTING ON A SHOW
Listed under: Show News
Published: Monday, November 24, 2008
Over the years, the What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision show has gone through a number of incarnations – this year we were treated to something of a re-branding, with Stuff Live! shaking off the supporting act tag and topping the bill.
There was also a venue change, with the show relocating to Docklands from its previous home in Hammersmith...
With economic conditions so tough, it wasn't a great surprise that a few major brands were either conspicuous by their absence or had a smaller presence than usual, but despite this fact, almost 10,000 people pounded the exhibition hall carpet over the course of the three-day event.
A number of companies chose the show as a launch pad for some of their latest products, while a new audio brand, Connected Artcoustic, introduced itself to consumers.
Elsewhere, LG's dramatic stand showcased many of the company's latest flatscreens, while Epson, inFocus and projectiondesign offered up a number of projectors for the approval of attendant home cinema fans.
As you would expect given the show's new title, the Hi-Fi elements that have previously characterised the event weren't given as much attention as in recent years, but that didn't stop us finding some kit that caught our eye...
PURE AVANTI FLOW
Following on from the success of the multi award-winning Evoke Flow, Pure have launched the Avanti Flow tabletop DAB, FM and Internet radio. Equipped with an integrated iPod dock and capable of media streaming, this sleek product comes in a piano black finish with a large, clear OLED graphical display. Employing a 5.25-inch downward firing subwoofer, 2x 3-inch midrange drive units and PURE’s Clearsound technology to deliver excellent stereo sound, the Avanti will be available this month at £279.99.
Contact: http://www.pure.com
ORBITSOUND
Continuing to promote their unique way of enjoying Apple's finest, Orbitsound were on hand to demo the T3 personal stereo speaker, a device that creates a 'stereo aura' around the wearer, eliminating the need for earphones. Roughly the size of an iPod, it was joined by the T6 mini Hi-Fi iPod dock and T12 TV Soundbar with integrated iPod dock. All three products boast airSOUND, the British spatial sound technology that delivers stereo sound from one speaker, without the need for digital signal processing.
Contact: http://www.orbitsound.co.uk
YAMAHA DVX
Making a welcome appearance, Yamaha were keen to show off the new DVX-700 and DVX-1000 DVD home cinema systems, priced at £700 and £1000 respectively. Making use of a host of clever technologies, including the proprietary Air Surround Xtreme and Faroudja de-interlacers, these 2.1-channel set-ups deliver a convincing 7.1-channel sound, while an optional YDS-11 dock is available to cater for all iPod enthusiasts.
Contact: +44 (0)1908 366 700 http://www.yamaha.co.uk
DALI LEKTOR
Debuting its new Lektor range, Danish speaker brand DALI proved to be a popular attraction, though sadly its products were on display only. Comprising three bookshelf speakers, two floorstanders, a subwoofer and a centre that can double as an L/C/R, each product in the line features 1.1-inch soft dome tweeters, derived from the up-market Ikon series. Elsewhere, wood fibre cones and a choice of walnut and black ash finishes complete what is a particularly tempting package.
Contact: +44 (0)845 644 3537 http://www.dali.dk
TANNOY REVOLUTION
Appearing as part of Icon Distribution's showing, Tannoy introduced the new Revolution range. Drawing on the strengths of the Signature series, Revolution comprises the DC4 bookshelf, DC4T floorstander, DC4-LCR centre and a powerful AV subwoofer that marries a high-output 10-inch long-throw driver with a 160W amp in a compact ported cabinet. Sporting the same drivers and basic trapezoid speaker box design as Signature, Revolution is available now, with each cabinet offered in hand-finished light oak or dark espresso real wood veneers, and is priced from £249.99 to £499.99 per pair.
Contact: +44 (0)1236 420 199 http://www.tannoy.com
ARMOUR MYRYAD MI
Offering a CD-player, DAB and FM tuners, and iPod compatibility to prospective buyers, the new Myryad Mi is priced at £1250 and features an optional BluePlay receiver for playing music from ‘A2DP’ Bluetooth-enabled devices. Sporting a high-quality, 3.5-inch full colour screen and illuminated, touch sensitive buttons, this one-box stereo Hi-Fi pumps out 2x 100W courtesy of a Class-D digital stereo amplifier.
Contact: +44 (0)1279 501 111 http://www.armourhome.co.uk
With economic conditions so tough, it wasn't a great surprise that a few major brands were either conspicuous by their absence or had a smaller presence than usual, but despite this fact, almost 10,000 people pounded the exhibition hall carpet over the course of the three-day event.
A number of companies chose the show as a launch pad for some of their latest products, while a new audio brand, Connected Artcoustic, introduced itself to consumers.
Elsewhere, LG's dramatic stand showcased many of the company's latest flatscreens, while Epson, inFocus and projectiondesign offered up a number of projectors for the approval of attendant home cinema fans.
As you would expect given the show's new title, the Hi-Fi elements that have previously characterised the event weren't given as much attention as in recent years, but that didn't stop us finding some kit that caught our eye...
PURE AVANTI FLOW
Following on from the success of the multi award-winning Evoke Flow, Pure have launched the Avanti Flow tabletop DAB, FM and Internet radio. Equipped with an integrated iPod dock and capable of media streaming, this sleek product comes in a piano black finish with a large, clear OLED graphical display. Employing a 5.25-inch downward firing subwoofer, 2x 3-inch midrange drive units and PURE’s Clearsound technology to deliver excellent stereo sound, the Avanti will be available this month at £279.99.
Contact: http://www.pure.com
ORBITSOUND
Continuing to promote their unique way of enjoying Apple's finest, Orbitsound were on hand to demo the T3 personal stereo speaker, a device that creates a 'stereo aura' around the wearer, eliminating the need for earphones. Roughly the size of an iPod, it was joined by the T6 mini Hi-Fi iPod dock and T12 TV Soundbar with integrated iPod dock. All three products boast airSOUND, the British spatial sound technology that delivers stereo sound from one speaker, without the need for digital signal processing.
Contact: http://www.orbitsound.co.uk
YAMAHA DVX
Making a welcome appearance, Yamaha were keen to show off the new DVX-700 and DVX-1000 DVD home cinema systems, priced at £700 and £1000 respectively. Making use of a host of clever technologies, including the proprietary Air Surround Xtreme and Faroudja de-interlacers, these 2.1-channel set-ups deliver a convincing 7.1-channel sound, while an optional YDS-11 dock is available to cater for all iPod enthusiasts.
Contact: +44 (0)1908 366 700 http://www.yamaha.co.uk
DALI LEKTOR
Debuting its new Lektor range, Danish speaker brand DALI proved to be a popular attraction, though sadly its products were on display only. Comprising three bookshelf speakers, two floorstanders, a subwoofer and a centre that can double as an L/C/R, each product in the line features 1.1-inch soft dome tweeters, derived from the up-market Ikon series. Elsewhere, wood fibre cones and a choice of walnut and black ash finishes complete what is a particularly tempting package.
Contact: +44 (0)845 644 3537 http://www.dali.dk
TANNOY REVOLUTION
Appearing as part of Icon Distribution's showing, Tannoy introduced the new Revolution range. Drawing on the strengths of the Signature series, Revolution comprises the DC4 bookshelf, DC4T floorstander, DC4-LCR centre and a powerful AV subwoofer that marries a high-output 10-inch long-throw driver with a 160W amp in a compact ported cabinet. Sporting the same drivers and basic trapezoid speaker box design as Signature, Revolution is available now, with each cabinet offered in hand-finished light oak or dark espresso real wood veneers, and is priced from £249.99 to £499.99 per pair.
Contact: +44 (0)1236 420 199 http://www.tannoy.com
ARMOUR MYRYAD MI
Offering a CD-player, DAB and FM tuners, and iPod compatibility to prospective buyers, the new Myryad Mi is priced at £1250 and features an optional BluePlay receiver for playing music from ‘A2DP’ Bluetooth-enabled devices. Sporting a high-quality, 3.5-inch full colour screen and illuminated, touch sensitive buttons, this one-box stereo Hi-Fi pumps out 2x 100W courtesy of a Class-D digital stereo amplifier.
Contact: +44 (0)1279 501 111 http://www.armourhome.co.uk
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