Round Up: Our Favourite New Hi-Fi of 2014!Categories: Hi-Fi, News

The end… is nigh! Well, the end of 2014 at the very least. And what a year it has been, for both us and the world of hi-fi. As we turn our focus onto the New Year and all of the new challenges (and technologies!) it will bring, we’ve also been having a think about the products that have really made an impact.

2014 was a strange year, full of ups and downs. Although we’re pleased to report that it was mostly ups for us!  It has been Audio Affair’s best year. We’ve always held our customer’s interests and opinions in very high regard, and by listening to your feedback in 2013 we were able to improve upon our order management systems towards the end of 2013. This lead to the relaunch of our website in June 2014 and introduced many of the features you asked for over successive months. With the new website came the new blog (hi!) which has helped us engage with our customers, or suppliers and – most importantly – our products in a whole new way. We noticed that 0% finance has been hugely popular and we reduced our minimum spend from £1000 to £500 upon your suggestion, allowing you to apply for 0% finance on qualifying orders over £50 – which has made hi-fi a game that everyone can afford. Many of you have came back to us to part exchange your old hi-fi equipment for new, making 2014 our biggest year yet for part exchanges which has allowed for many of you to upgrade for a fraction of the cost. That’s something we can all drink to!

As for the world of hi-fi, there have been plenty of twists and turns along the way. We have observed a resurgence of interest in two channel hi-fi as well as high-end headphones and the market for good sound within home cinema has never been stronger.  The most remarkable turn of events is the vinyl revival, which has seen its highest sales in over two decades! As you can imagine, this has led to us parting with huge quantities of our vinyl stock including: turntables, upgrades, phono stages and, of course, tonnes of LPs.  The world of hi-fi has been rocked by such things as the arrival of the latest generation of smartphones – and the surge in popularity of virtually lossless AptX has resulted in huge advances in the field of wireless speaker technology – as you will see! 

There have been so many fantastic new products this year – but there are a few that have really turned our heads. Be it their fantastic build quality, their innovative design or their mind blowing sound quality, these are the items that will form a blueprint for the hi-fi of the future.

So, without further ado and in no particular order, here are ten of the products that we absolutely loved in 2014. Remember, all prices were correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.

Oh, and before we forget… Happy New Year from all of us. Lets make 2015 a good one!

1. Naim Muso Wireless Speaker System – £895

Where better to kick off this list than with the wonderful Naim Mu-so? The Mu-so is a brand new product, derived from nothing but the desire to create something completely new. It was heralded as something special long before its release, and it still managed to surpass expectations. A combination of complete user-friendliness, features and incredible sound quality has made it a force to be reckoned with – and it has proven to be something of a magnet for our in-store customers! Everyone has heard of it – and everyone wants to hear it.

Why is it one of our favourite products?
We love that hi-fi is gradually becoming more and more accessible. The blending together of real hi-fi and the lifestyle market is embodied beautifully by the Mu-so. And the fact that it is hugely popular with audiophiles as it is with the ‘trendy’ customers speaks volumes, the two can exist in perfect harmony. And yes, we all want one.

2. Arcam miniBlink Bluetooth Receiver – £90

It may be cute, it may be inexpensive – but it’s not something to be taken lightly. With the rise of digital streaming, there was a call for a product that could bring high quality digital streaming to those who had an existing system. Arcam answered that call with a little Bluetooth receiver shaped like a pebble.  Hugely popular with pretty much everyone who lays their hands on it, this little device is a life-changer and an excellent way of bringing a world of music into your life while barely spending anything. And it’s incredibly easy to use. Just plug it in, connect with your devices and enjoy.

Why is it our favourite?
It’s popular for a very good reason. It works – and it works well. It makes digital streaming incredibly accessible, bridging that gap between analogue and digital just that little bit more. Has streaming still got a way to go? Maybe. But the wonderful miniBlink has proven to us – and everyone else – that it’s moving in the right direction.

3. KEF LS50 White Speakers – £799

Okay okay, technically the LS50s were released in 2013 – but their beautiful white counterparts very much belong to 2014! The original LS50s were already something to behold, and their crisp and clean new finish demonstrates this perfectly. They have scooped pretty much every award in their field, owed to offering a rich, deep and detailed sound that is very clearly KEF – but with a fresh, clean perspective. They sound as good as they look, and we can’t get enough.

Why are they are favourites?
Bookshelf speakers are as old as hi-fi itself, so it’s a field that runs the risk of becoming a little… mundane. KEF’s LS50s have proven to us – and everyone else – that there is still plenty of room for exploration and creativity.

4. Q Acoustics Media M4 Soundbar – £399

The rise of the soundbar has been a very interesting thing to witness. They have brought home cinema- style audio to the masses, opening it up to those who or tight of budget and space. The Media M4 a real critic pleaser which stands out for one simple, reason – while most soundbars are designed to enhance the audio of film and TV first and foremost when it comes to music, a little something has to give. This means that – in our opinion – your average soundbar won’t handle music quite like a real hi-fi system could.  The M4 is designed to handle both music and movies in equal (and excellent) measure. And the inclusion of AptX is a pretty frank testimony to this fact – Q are serious about this being used as a serious streamer.

Why is it our favourite?
It’s an excellent all-rounder that doesn’t pull any punches. Soundbars have frequently been criticised for their lack of finesse when handling anything but AV sound, which is why the M4 stands out as much as it does: it can do both, and it can do it well. And if you consider the price, it’s excellent value too. All-in-one, compact systems are improving in quality all the time, and the M4 demonstrates this beautifully.

5. Yamaha YSP-2500 Digital Sound Projector – £799

Widely regarded as one of the finest ‘soundbars’ money can buy, the YSP-2500 overshadows all of its competition with ease. It isn’t cheap, but it’s worth the purchase for both your home-cinema and your streaming needs. Built like a tank, this revolutionary bar and subwoofer combo boasts three HDMI outputs, a coaxial, an optical and an analogue. In short, it functions as a pretty nifty hub for all your audio requirements, without taking up too much space! What makes this sound projector stand out the most, however, is its ability to bounce sound off the walls doing more than just simulating surround sound – it creates it! Its six speakers are fully adjustable and can be easily manoeuvred (with an app. So easy!) so it can work with the room to fill it with clear, detailed and immersive sound.

Why is it our favourite?
It’s the best you can get, bar none, and one of the most outstanding releases of the last five years. No, it’s not cheap. But it is worth every penny.

6.  Ruark Audio R2 MkIII DAB Radio – £399

You can’t go far wrong with a Ruark! The R2 MkIII – a marked up version of the excellent R2 MKII, which scooped up numerous awards in its time. Ruark knew they were onto something good, so they went on to refine the R2 MkII into something very special indeed. Al good all-rounder, this DAB radio also features an iPod dock and a beautiful OLED display which is fully adjustable. And then, there’s the sound – a sound which has been acclaimed, comparing its room-filling abilities to a full blown hi-fi system.

Why is it our favourite?
It’s been a good year for radios, we must confess. But Ruark’s beautifully built and feature-packed R2 managed to rise above most. It sounds as good as it looks too – and that’s pretty good. Boxes that do it all have been very popular this year – and the improvements that the latest models exhibit demonstrate nicely that they’re not going anywhere. Not just yet.

7. Pro-Ject Essential II Turntable – £285

It wouldn’t be a round up blog without a mention of a hi-fi turntable! As we mentioned before, vinyl has made a serious comeback in the last few years. And those without a turntable have been turning to the likes of Pro-Ject for answers. The Essential II is ideal for those looking to get into vinyl who want more than just a basic deck. It features an internal phono stage which will allow it to be plugged into any amp. Best of all, the USB output allows for vinyl to be recorded digitally – if you are that way inclined.

Why is it our favourite?
It’s simple, but it’s effective. And it sounds divine! Excellent value for money, and the USB feature is pretty nifty too.

8. Roberts Radio Stream 93i DAB – £149

Yes, it’s another digital radio, but what a radio it is! The latest offering from Roberts boasts the entire package: Internet Radio, DAB and FM/AM are all available alongside Spotify Connect. But what sets it apart is the incredible sound quality, a detail that cinched it the What Hi Fi Awards ‘Radio of the Year’ title. It projects incredibly fine sound and is capable of tremendous volumes, and it’s understated and contemporary design means it won’t dominate with its presence. Well, not until you want it to and turn it up!

Why is it our favourite?
There’s a reason why it won as many awards as it did – it’s a beautiful looking and sounding radio with bags uon bags of potential. It sounds just as good streaming wirelessly from a mobile device as it does streaming an internet radio station from thousands of miles away. It makes a daunting prospect – the act of sifting through thousands of potential sources, an absolute breeze. If you had this in your life, you’d forever wonder how you ever coped without it.

9.  Audio Affair Gift Vouchers

Potentially the most exciting new product on our list – well, for us at least! We have introduced a new voucher/gift card scheme. We know that buying something that is so… well… specific to taste as hi-fi can be tricky, so now we can offer the option of letting them buy it themselves! Each voucher will come with a unique code which can be used both in store and online and it’s valid for a whopping 12 months after purchase. If I were an audiophile (… which I am!) I’d prefer to receive one of these than have someone guess at my preferences. We are a picky breed, lets face it.

Why are they our favourite?
For the obvious reasons…

10. Linn Akurate Exakt – Akubarik & Akudorik Systems

Okay okay, so this is not technically a ‘new’ system, but it is worth celebrating regardless. This is the year that we achieved the coveted title of an official Linn dealer, and slowly but surely we’ve been adding new systems and products to our collection, ready for you to come in and demo. Our most recent additions are the Exakt Akubarik & Akudorik Systems. Both feature the acclaimed Exakt DSM with speakers (either bookshelf or floorstanding, depending on how far you’re willing to go, which features built-in Exakt technology. In a nutshell, this means that the speakers, as well as the DSM, are both fully functioning sources working together to communicate the most gloriously balanced sound imaginable. They’re not cheap, no. But in hi-fi you get what you pay for, and you will hear every penny when you go Exakt.

Why are they our favourite?
We’ve been a huge fan of Linn for a very, very long time. And becoming a dealer is a bit of a realised dream! The Exakt systems sum up exactly why we are such big fans. Their tehcnology is incredibly innovative, with the music and sound treated as the most important facet, however they blend beautifully into the ‘lifestyle’ catagory too. They’re designed to melt into your life and to enhance it with the pure sound of true hi-fi. And now, we’re  a part of that dream!

Well… what can we say? It’s been an amazing year, not just for us but hi-fi too! All that remains now is to welcome in the New Year and eagerly await what 2015 will have in store for us. And there will be more on that a little later…

Until then, Happy New Year, once again, from all of us here at Audio Affair. Thank you for reading, and thank you for helping us to continue to do what we love to do.

… Happy Listening!