HiFi Connoisseur

01/08/2026

The Meze Audio Arta looks better in the flesh. And I love that they don’t skimp on accessories. It includes both the velour and leather ear pads, and the cables are the upgraded silver versions, with both 1/4” jacks and 4 pin XLR variants

I’m using the Chord Electronics 2Go and Hugo 2 combination to drive them.

It is a return to form in my book. This feels like the spiritual successor to the original Empyrean. We had a taste of it with the Poet. The Arta is just the completion of that journey.

01/08/2026

Meze Audio Arta. Now available for demonstration. And in stock. Very limited numbers available. Can’t wait to try them out this weekend.

Work never ends. But I am not complaining.

01/08/2026

Couldn’t resist sneaking in to listen to the Focal Scala Utopia Evo M before starting work.

The EMM Labs Inc. Meitner Audio MA3i is still running in but it already shows the lineage it shares with the DV2i in the other room.

31/07/2026

Many hands make light work.

Focal Scala Utopia Evo M unveiled. The new midrange driver represents a brand new direction for the Utopia range.

I’ve just unboxed the EMM Labs Inc. Meitner Audjo MA3i streamer and paired it with the Audio Research LS28SE tube preamplifier and McIntosh Laboratory Inc. MC462 Quad Balanced power amplifier. Running in right now.

31/07/2026

The cat is out of the bag… these are the new Focal Audio Scala Utopia Evo M.

It’s going to take some friends to help me unpack them. The delivery driver said the pallet weighed 200kg.

In the meantime, to get used to the Focal sound, I’m listening to the Focal Aria Evo X N2, matched with the KEF KC92 dual 9” subwoofer, powered by Naim Audio Uniti Nova all in one streamer and amplifier.

Life is good.

31/07/2026

I am really excited to unbox these.

There are only two places in Australia that you’ll be able to listen to these. And we are one of them.

Honoured to be one of the two.

Can you guess what these are?

30/07/2026

Bryston Bi-200 integrated amplifier combines the power circuitry of their stereo power amp and their standalone preamp into a single chassis. An integrated amp without the usual compromises.

Matched with the BDA-3/3.14 DAC, it is a potent combination with the Revival Audio Atalante Grande Reserve speakers.

28/07/2026

New for this week. The Bryston BDA 3.14

This has the streamer built in. But without HDMI

The version I would spec would be the BDA3 with HDMI and then use something like an EverSolo T10 for streaming. The sound of the Velvet Sound DACs is simply sublime.

22/07/2026

I need one of these Grabo machines at work.

Also, PMG just unveiled their new PMG series of amplifiers. Right now just the Stereo versions, but Paul just teased their upcoming flagship the PMG800.

PS Audio's new PMG 800 monoblocks are affectionately known as "The ...

16/07/2026

Didn’t see this in my bingo card.

It seems like Naim Audio has been quietly beavering away in the background. Working on Roon certification for two of their newest products. Can’t wait.