Audio Show Deluxe 2025

 

This weekend we were back in 'The Chapel' on the first floor at the UK's Audio Show Deluxe with Definitive Audio and Living Voice.

SJS Model 3 Silver Enhanced mm phono, Model 4 Premier Silver line stage and Model 10 Premier PSE 300B monoblock power amplifiers were partnered with Kuzma turntables, Consolidated Audio SUTs, Audes power conditioners, DH Labs cables and showcasing the Living Voice R80 loudspeakers. 

As dusk settled on a sunny Saturday the system was lit is a sultry mauve and the music kept on coming. 

Also in attendance were Model 5 Premier Nano SE 300B power amplifier, Model 7 Premier Silver line stage custom finished in lacquered sand-blasted copper, and Model 8 Standard SE 300B power amplifier in natural and antique silver finish.

"The emphasis in the Living Voice room is always good music and their dem at Audio Show Deluxe did not disappoint. The system consisted of very similar SJS tube electronics to their last outing at the Munich High End with a Kuzma R turntable, 4Point 14 arm and CAR50 cartridge (below) into a Consolidated Berlin copper monster can step up transformer. Speakers were the Living Voice R80 that we reviewed last year and the sound was as warm and juicy as you like, especially when playing Scientist Dubs Culture into a Parallel Universe but likewise with Mari Samuelsen’s high pitched violin and Cage2 by Bertrand Chamayou, the latter consisting of prepared piano pieces that could so easily sound harsh on many systems. The system was powered by an Audes DT3600 mains conditioner (£10,000) which sister company Definitive Audio distributes, apparently it 73kg mass is worth its weight in mains filtering."

The Ear

SJS Arcadia Model 6 Enhanced MM RIAA phono

We are pleased to announce that the SJS Arcadia Model 6 MM RIAA phono amplifier is now available in Enhanced specification, complete with a copper chassis

The copper chassis brings a musicality and effortless scale with rich tone and timing, and improvements to the power supply and tantalum film resistors in selected locations improve clarity and finesse

The Arcadia Model 6 Enhanced mm riaa phono amplifier is based upon the 6112 and 6012 NOS military valves, and a GZ34 valve rectifier, and has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all SJS Electroacoustics primary design criteria:

• Single Ended circuit topology
• Pure Class A operation
• Zero negative feedback
• Valve rectification and choke-input HT power supply
• Custom made HT T-network power supply capacitors with silver leads
• Point-to-point circuit wiring without PCBs
• Hand built
• PTFE board for component mounting
• High quality components throughout
• Custom made copper chassis

Each amplifier comes with 2 years parts a labour warranty, except for the valves which have a 6 month warranty.

SJS Arcadia amplifiers are available from Definitive Audio in Nottingham.

SJS Arcadia Model 9 SUT

 Two more SJS Arcadia Model 9 SUTs (Step Up Transformers), for matching MC phono cartridges to MM phono amplifiers, are about to be shipped to customers.

Both featere:

• Hashimoto HM-7 transformers
• Dual primaries can be switched for high/low impedance carts
• Ground connection on the primary can be isolated for floating the MC coils
• MuMetal lined aluminium casework

The Hashimoto HM-7 transformers, have dual primaries and may be switched in series or parallel, for matching medium (7 - 40 ohm) or low (2 - 7 ohm) impedance MC cartridges, providing gain of 15 times (23 dB) or 30 times (29 dB).

The first unit has been customised with:

• Amtrans gold plated copper internal wiring
• CMC gold plated phono sockets

The second unit has been customised with: 

• DH Labs pure silver wire with ptfe insulation
• CMC silver plated phono sockets

SJS Arcadia Model 9 SUTs come with 2 years parts and labour warranty. Each is hand built to order in Stockprt, UK, and available direct from SJS Electroacoustics, please DM for details.

SJS Arcadia Model 6 MM RIAA phono amplifier

We are pleased to announce delivery of the first of a new batch of the SJS Arcadia Model 6 MM RIAA phono amplifiers.

These feature the same basic power supply philosophy and circuit design, while the valves have changed to 6012 and 6112 dual triodes, each in an SRPP gain stage, providing high gain, linearity and drive ability.

The Arcadia Model 6 mm riaa phono amplifier is based upon the 6112 and 6012 NOS military valves, and a GZ34 valve rectifier, and has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfils all SJS Electroacoustics primary design criteria:

• Single Ended circuit topology
• Pure Class A operation
• Zero negative feedback
• Valve rectification and choke-input HT power supply
• Custom made HT T-network power supply capacitors with silver leads
• Point-to-point circuit wiring without PCBs
• Hand built
• PTFE board for component mounting
• High quality components throughout
• Custom made aluminium chassis 

Bespoke customisation of the internal components is possible to meet our clients' specific requirements, whether it is replacement of the Duelund copper foil JDM capacitors or possibly using Tantalum film resistors, for example, these can be discussed at the point of ordering.

Here we have a bespoke customer order which includes a pair of Hashimoto HM-7 moving coil step-up transformers installed within the Model 6 chassis. Additional sockets at the rear provide for switching between MM or MC inputs, and also switching between low and high gain wiring for the HM-7 transformers.

Each amplifier comes with 2 years parts a labour warranty, except for the valves which have a 6 month warranty.

SJS Arcadia amplifiers are available from Definitive Audio in Nottingham.

Munich HiEnd 2024

Four days in May in Bavaria, with music and friends, what is not to like?

We were back in Atrium E 220 with Definitive Audio and Bemax Audio.

The show system featured SJS Model 3 phono, Model 4 linestage pre and a pair of Model 10 monoblock power amplifiers, with Kuzma XL air and Grand Prix Audio Monaco 3 turntables, all supporting the Living Voice R80 loudspeakers. 

It was very nice to meet everyone who visited us, and we are grateful for some very nice feedback:

"the sound was absolutely beautiful with Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa, emotionally charged with Lady Blackbird’s Fix It (Black Acid Soul) and fat and juicy with Fila Brazilia’s The Sheriff (Retrospective: Redux 90-22). If you want to hear a wide variety of interesting music at its best this room is the place to be."

Jason Kenedy, the ear

"After the serene piano music we were treated to when we walked in Kevin put on some dreamy and tubby drum and bass. These speakers and this system seem to be able to play anything you care to throw at them without skipping a beat…and surely this is what you want from any HiFi."

HiFi Pig

"This time around, the world’s most attractive tube amp (at least to these eyes) took the shape of the all-new Model 10 Premier mono amplifier, sporting parallel single-ended 300B output tubes: all the grace, agility, rich harmonics, natural tonality and articulation of the Model 5 stereo – but with more headroom, substance and – for want of a better word – grunt. And, it has to be said, there’s definitely something about those three, 300b tubes lined up across the beautifully sculpted chassis."

Roy Gregory, GY8

SJS Arcadia Model 10 PSE 300B mono power amplifiers

This SJS Arcadia Model 10 power amplifiers are all about pairs. A pair of Premier level mono amplifiers, each using a pair of 300Bs in parallel to provide 20W of audio output power, using a pair of nano-crystalline core interstage and output transformers, and a pair of double C-core power supply chokes.

The Model 10 uses a NOS Sylvania 7N7 input valve to drive a 300B valve used to drive the parallel 300B output valves via an interstage driver transformer. The combination of 300B to drive 300Bs gives an effortless sense of scale, tone and clarity to help bring out the sense of the musical performance.

In common with other SJS Arcadia amplifiers it has been specifically engineered for sonic performance rather than technical specification, and fulfills SJS Electroacoustics primary design criteria:

• Single Ended circuit topology
• Pure Class A operation
• Zero negative feedback
• Valve rectification and choke smoothed HT power supply
• Custom made HT T-network power supply capacitors with silver leads
• Separate mains transformers for HT and filament supplies
• Point-to-point circuit wiring without PCBs
• Star-earth & star-supply wiring
• Hand built
• Real solid wooden frame
• 4mm aluminium panels, black or natural anodized
• Soundcare SuperSpike feet
• Very low noise for use with high efficiency loudspeakers

This Premier version includes:

• Nanocrystalline core output transformers
• Nanocrystalline interstage driver transformers
• Double C-core power supply chokes
• Choke input power supplies
• Fixed bias output valves
• Self-biased driver valve
• Hand made ptfe valve bases
• Duelund CAST DC Silver foil coupling capacitors
• Duelund CAST DC Silver foil bypass capacitors
• Tantalum film resistors
• Pure silver wire for all point to point connections

Delivered with solid walnut frame, black anodised aluminium panels and the dark grey transformer covers can be heard on demonstration at Definitive Audio in Nottingham alongside the rest of the SJS Arcadia range of amplifiers with Living Voice loudspeakers.

UK hi-fi Show Live 2023

Ascot, home of horses, the Royal Enclosure and plenty of bubbles, hosted The UK hi-fi Show Live and we were there for the first public outing of the all new SJS Model 10 mono-block valve amplifiers.

Each mono-block amplifier has parallel single ended 300B output valves for 20W per channel output, using a 7N7 input valve and a third 300B as the driver stage using an interstage driver transformer. These Premier version amplifiers have silver foil coupling capacitors and nano-crystal core interstage and output transformers for a pure and engaging musical performance.

We were delighted to join Definitive Audio showing the Living Voice R80 loudspeakers and the fabulous system featuring both Kuzma Audio XL Air and Grand Prix Audio Monaco v3 turntables with Kuzma tonearm and CAR 60 mc catridges, Consolidated Audio mc step up transformers, and  completed with SJS Model 3 mm phono and Model 4 linestage amplifiers.

It was great to meet everyone who visited us, and very nice to see visitors appreciating the system:

"You can count on Kevin and Lynn Scott from Definitive Audio to put on a good show wherever they appear, and Ascot didn’t disappoint. …As in Munich, the sound was about as natural and musically expressive as one is ever likely to encounter at a HiFi show." 
Eric van Spelde, HiFi Pig

"The new R80 speakers sounded very easy and natural and managed to present a bigger scale with it’s larger mid/bas drivers with very noticeable cymbals/hi hats which sounded exceptional with Jazz recordings."
Naim Community Forum

"Definitive Audio, with a stunning array of top performers on demonstration, such as the Living Voice R80 Loudspeaker and the Kuzma XL Air turntable (to name just two). Definitive Audio drew patrons into their room with ease and grace. As I settled to absorb the various subtle textures and lyrical wonders of Oliver Nelson’s “Stolen Moments” from the vinyl source, I felt the world’s stresses simply drip away. Now this is the mark of a great system. The fact that I could easily ignore the components, cables and interconnects in front of me, listen, reflect and enjoy speaks volumes in respect of all the components being used. Patron Terry Johnson also reflected my thoughts by advising. “This is one of the systems I aspire to own. I can feel the layers of musicians coming through and I just love the organic signature. If I do get to the point where money is no object, I will be giving Definitive Audio a call..!” 
Michael Valentine Studio