Audio Excellence

GoldenEar Triton Installation
GoldenEar Triton Installation

Elegant Bass Solution
Elegant Bass Solution 1024 576 Audio Excellence

Client: “I would like two quality, powerful subwoofers for my newly renovated apartment, but have limited space”

Audio Excellence: “Not a problem, Sir. GoldenEar Technology have built them into their speakers”

Intelligent engineers and well-executed products often provide a very elegant solution to a tricky installation.  Point in case. Very few speakers would be able to deliver the scale of sound which the GoldenEar Triton Ones do in this confined space. A quality installation with great performance.

Tidal Streaming Service

Super Streaming Service
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To get the best possible sound from your audio system you need to start with the best possible version of the song/album. From a music streaming position, we’ll leave CD and LP for another discussion, the best quality available is from TIDAL. Unlike other streaming services, TIDAL allows a listener to stream at 3 different tiers, from medium quality MP3 to CD resolution and with the correct hardware at high-resolution MQA.

The first month at TIDAL is free. Try it. Make sure you select “Hi-Fi subscription” and compare.

Audio System Upgrade
Audio System Upgrade
Audio System Upgrade

Work in progress
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Part of the fun of upgrading your audio system is that your music collection becomes new again with further insight gained into your favourite recordings. Here the addition of a power amplifier radically transformed the performance of the client’s B&W803 speakers. Enlightening!

LP Turntable
LP Turntable
LP Turntable
LP Turntable

Format Friendly System
Format Friendly System 1024 576 Audio Excellence

A true music fan’s system which places equal importance on CDs, LPs and streaming. It’s ultimately all about the music.

UPDATE: 2020 has brought many things into perspective. For many of our clients it brought an even deeper appreciation of the importance of quality music and movies in their homes. From the owner of this system:

SA Lockdown 2020
Client Confessions
“My relationship with Audio Excellence goes back a long way. It began with me, hanging on to my dad’s coattails as he would enter into a realm so foreign and unknown to me. A world where instruments came to life and technology at its pinnacle was on show.
It began with sound – the quality and delivery of music like I had not heard before. Then I grew up, became an adult (there’s still some debate there, but 4 decades on this earth classifies me as one!), and wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps and venture forth to hear what music could offer me.
What began as an exploration into sound, soon because a passionate and an at least 15 year discourse into music. It stopped being about sound and it was all about music. Artists, albums and to-ing and fro-ing with my very dear friend Klaus. The music needed to sound as good as it could to my ears and my budget. And Klaus made that happen. Simply making the music that we both enjoyed tremendously, sound as an exploration into sound and nuance that I didn’t know existed.
The music then became conversations – I can safely say that not a few weeks pass without Klaus or I reaching out to the other. We chat about music, the world and another favourite pastime of ours – food! It has become a tradition that when ever we meet, we eat and Gillian looks on enviously! When it is time to tweak my system, Klaus, Brian and I break bread together. Why? Because when people play an integral part in your happiness, you share your idea of happiness with them.
Over the years it has taken to put a system together, I can safely say that I have my happiness. In a time such as this, where we spend so much time at home, what better way to spend that time than enjoying Blu Ray concerts in all their surround sound glory, or selecting a vinyl and giving it a spin – knowing full well that before the first notes resonate through your hifi, your mind is about to be blown away?
Music is powerful. It is entertainment. It is companionship. And at time like this, it is essential. And why does it sound so great? Because Klaus has always designed systems to suit my needs and my pocket. Taking years, and years to put things together making each CD a pleasure and an excuse for a chat. My wife and kids have become ardent fans of these projects and together we create memories with the soundtrack to our lives.”
Ravi Mackenjee
Isotek EVO3 Polaris

IsoTek EVO3 Polaris: Mains Filter
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R7 770

The IsoTek Polaris is a superb starting point in IsoTek Systems’ comprehensive range of mains filters and surge and lightning protection products.

Electricity is the raw material that your audio/video system uses to recreate music and movies. Unfortunately, our mains is polluted with induced frequencies from cellular communications, Wi-Fi, etc, which has a negative impact on the performance of our stereos and home theatres. Isotek deals with this by filtering out the noise and feeding clean power to our precious components.

* PRICING SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY

Magico S3 Speakers in Pearl White custom high-end audio systems
Magico S3 Speakers in Pearl White high end audio systems
Magico S3 Speakers in Pearl White high end audio systems
Magico S3 Speakers in Pearl White custom high-end audio systems

White Magic
White Magic 1024 576 Audio Excellence

Equipment list:

  1. Magico S3 speakers in pearl white.
  2. Constellation Argo integrated amplifier
  3. Cambridge Audio Stream Magic 6 – Digital streamer
  4. Cambridge Audio 752BD – Universal disc player
  5. Supra Sword speaker and interlinking cables
  6. Crestron control
  7. Furman power conditioner
  • The client’s relationship with Audio Excellence goes back more than 20 years.
  • More than happy with his previous system of Duntech speakers and Conrad Johnson amplification.
  • A complete remodelling of his apartment brought him back into our store to look at simply updating his system to accommodate HD.
  • As we do, we played him something he didn’t specially ask for. A system consisting of Magico speakers and Constellation amplification. He was astonished by the extent to which music reproduction has advanced in the last 10 years. And so the process began.
  • The first challenge was to relocate system position which would allow the potential of the Magico S3 speakers to shine. The previous configuration had the speakers in free space. With the remodelling of the apartment, a major decision was made to swing the room 180 degrees and have a sliding door removed and bricked up.

Cabinet challenges.

  • Cabinet was painstakingly designed by the client and tweaked with input from ourselves.
  • Initially, all the electronics where to be hidden. We recommend that the gorgeous metalwork of the Constellation amplifier should be on show. This now sits centrally in the cabinet on two metal supports which creates the illusion of it floating. It also aids ventilation from top to bottom.
  • Limited space – Speaker’s feet slide under the cabinet.
  • Finish matched to pearl white of speakers.
  • Curves of speakers reflected in the cabinet.

System features.

  • Not only has the performance of equipment improved, so has functionality and ease of use.
  • CD collection stored uncompressed on NAS streamed through Cambridge Audio.
  • Universal disc player has HDMI in which accepts signal from HD decoder to make use of its better DACS and facilitate switching.
  • A basic Crestron system makes the system a breeze to use. Although the client still keeps the Constellations impressive remote handy.

Performance:

  • The biggest compliment to the system is that the client says he listens to more music than ever before with large portions of a weekend now devoted to music.
  • The system proves that high-performance audio can be integrated into a home.
  • Sound is incredibly musical, none fatiguing, detailed and a real treat to listen to.
Stereo vs Home Theatre

Should I get a home theatre or a stereo system?
Should I get a home theatre or a stereo system? 1024 576 Audio Excellence

This depends on how the system is going to be used and what one’s performance expectations are. A dedicated two-channel stereo system will always deliver a more musically satisfying performance and a home theatre will provide a more dramatic and engaging cinema experience.

Ideally one would have two separate systems; in practice, most of our clients require a system that has a level of competence for both music and movies.

The real issue lies with the very different requirements that music and movies have. Movie soundtracks have a very wide dynamic range, dialogue and on-screen effects are mixed to play on a centre channel speaker, surround effects for ambience as well as directional steering, and have a dedicated bass channel. Music recordings are almost always mixed to play in two-channel stereo, are typically dynamically compressed and truly deep bass effects are rare.

In a music system, correct pitch and timbre are absolutely critical for instruments to sound realistic. This is less important in a theatre where speakers which can handle dynamics are necessary. In a theatre, we are also less critical of audio due to our attention often being focused on the screen. Audio in a theatre has a supportive role whereas audio in a stereo system needs to excel on its own.

For a home theatre, a sub woofer’s function is to supply room-shaking effects and for music one requires a tuneful accurate bass that integrates seamlessly with one’s speakers. If the above seems confusing, then the best advice is to come through to our showroom where we can discuss and clarify your requirements and demonstrate different options for you.

Over the years we have had many clients who initially approached us for a theatre but eventually purchased a stereo system and vice versa. Our objective is to supply you with the most balanced and appropriate system.

High End Stereo and Home Theatre
High End Stereo and Home Theatre
High End Stereo and Home Theatre
High End Stereo and Home Theatre

High-End Stereo and Home Theatre meet
High-End Stereo and Home Theatre meet 1024 576 Audio Excellence

High-quality stereo music playback and home theatre are two very different experiences. Where budget and space allow, we recommend having both a dedicated cinema and a pure stereo listening music room. In this case, the client insisted on having both in the same space.

Mission accomplished.

At the centre of this very special system is a pair of Magico S7s, a speaker which can deliver true high-end music and with three 10inch woofers can deal with the dynamics of a movie soundtrack. These are driven by 400W Constellation monoblock amplifiers. Two JL Audio subwoofers are in place, one for the LFE of a movie soundtrack and the other to supplement the two front speakers. Four overhead speakers, four surround speakers, laser projection and acoustic treatment round things off. An absolute system which is a true treat to experience.

Cable Dressing and Management
Cable Dressing and Management
Cable Dressing and Management
Cable Dressing and Management

Wired for Sound
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Not the glamorous part of an installation, but one which we pride ourselves on, is ensuring correct cable dressing and management. This system has distributed audio and HD video, music streaming, network, and smart control.  

KEF R Series Floorstanding Speakers
KEF R Series Floorstanding Speakers
KEF R Series Floorstanding Speakers
KEF R Series Floorstanding Speakers

Intelligent Component Choice
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Creating good sound in open-plan environments can be challenging. Here a stunning pair of KEF R series floor-standing speakers fit perfectly into a client’s home with equipment and bass reinforcement concealed.

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