Bristol HiFI Show 2025 - Report

It was Press Day on Friday ahead of the Bristol HiFi Show this weekend.  You should try to get down there; there were genuinely exceptional HiFi products on display, many on view for the first time from the likes of QUAD, Michell Engineering and Acoustic Energy.  In my view, the mood was upbeat with shoots of recovery in the HFi sector that has been affected by the cost of living issues we all face and global events affecting shipping and other expenses. These, then, are my highlights, in no particular order, although the Michell launch was a very special moment.

Michell Engineering

Michell Engineering, a very family-run affair, launched a new Phono Stage preamplifier called APOLLO at the show. APOLLO has a new MUSE power supply to refine it further and regulate the DC power. Jonathan Nye, MD,  introduced the new preamplifier, highlighting that it is made with two billets of aluminium each and designed to form a Faraday cage to protect the electronics inside. The phono stage is fully configurable with the load switches on the underside of the unit.  The MUSE power supply even has ceramic fuses to enhance performance, such is the precision in these products.  The APOLLO and MUSE will be available starting in March, priced at £3,500.

Chord Company

Chord Company also gave Bristol attendees a first listen to its recently announced PhonoARAY and EE1 Plus noise management products.

The new EE1 Plus builds on the very successful entry-level galvanic isolation and targetted EE1 network filter, which has been reviewed and featured in many articles here at HF&MS. The new EE1 Plus builds on the EE1 with its ARAY technology. A quick demonstration by Pat Mitchell from Chord Company using a Michell GYRO SE proved the point!

Nex up from Chord Company was the PhonoARAY, designed to suppress unwanted noise in turntables. Pat Mitchell explained the PhonoARAY uses the grounding lead to the rear of your turntable.  It features the ARAY technology Chord pioneered, and it comes with a shielded cable upgrade to complete the package. The PhonoARAY has lightweight feet to isolate the unit from the surface.

Available now, the PhonoARAY is £1,000, and the EE1 Plus is £600.

Acoustic Energy

Acoustic Energy had a lovely room with a Rega Aethos and their new 309 loudspeakers.

REL

Probably the biggest room at the show with the biggest sound.  The REL room had two Reference Line Arrays that were on display with two Audio Research, ninety thousand pounds Reference 330M mono amplifiers.

Cyrus Audio

DALI Lyngdorf

Exposure

FiiO

Harbeth

Martin Logan

Following our few hours with the fabulous Martin Logan ESL 11Aloudspeakers, the smaller ESLs were on display in a lovely room with that electric sound.  Speaking with Paul Bayliss of Martin Logan, we are trying to get a proper review of the ESL range. These baby ESLs are a bit more portable. Congratulations, Martin Logan, on an excellent room.

Naim Audio

This is the new Naim Audio custom install Uniti 102 in a retail environment with the racking mount removed.  It offered an understated sound that was rather cool in my view.

QUAD

QUAD had a fantastic room this year with their updated 33/303 pre and power amplifiers on display.  They were on display at first with the new Wharfedale Super Lintons.  That sound was special, but the introduction of the amazing new QUAD ESL-2912Xs was something to hear and arguably was the room of the show.

The engaging Peter Comeau described the development of QUAD’s latest electrostatic loudspeakers at the end of the Press Day

Chord Electronics

TCI Podium

TCI was at Bristol with their latest product, which has never been seen: a new passive podium that absorbs unwanted RF and other noise.   It has been developed to go under streamers and DACs, etc. and is coming soon.  Watch this space. It is priced at a good price point. Importantly, details will follow, and I couldn’t possibly reveal them!

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