Brett Gideon: Fun times at Shore HiFi Auckland

Dropping into Shore HiFi on Auckland’s North Shore to have a look at a some new hi-fi kit is my idea of a good time  (I have other ideas about good times, this is just one of them OK?).

The demo room was set up with the double extra gorgeous Sonus Faber Auditor M standmounts on matching stands. Does anyone do better looking or better finished speakers than these Italian craftsmen? They’re certainly in the top few percent of the audio excellence awards in my book.

Partners on the day were Naim’s new Xs integrated amp, which sits between the Nait 5i and the Supernait with a CD5X CD player and an Avid Diva II turntable. The TT was fitted with a Lyra Doriam MC cartridge and a Jelco unpivot arm running into Naim phono stage.

These speakers sound pretty damn fine, way bigger and grander in scale than that little cabinet and mid/bass driver suggest and with the Naim amp lending a dose of speed and excitement to the mix, the system really sang.

Could I live with this combination of hi-fi gear for the rest of my days and not change a thing? Da Komrade, bring it on!

Sonus Faber Auditor M speakers

Lyra Dorian MC cartridge

Avid Diva II TT with Jelco arm

Avid TT power supply

Rack full of Naim gear with CD5X at top and XS amp just below it