1 C:\Users\Stuart\Desktop\DOCUMENTS\Hifi Pig\DESKTOP BACKUP\HIFI PIG\ADVERTISEMENTS\TQ\Grand Slam Large 2 (1).png 2 Hifi Pig www.hifipig.com CONTENTS REVIEWS 5. Entotem Plato 15. Zontec Art-Deco Phonostage 22. Rothwell Signature One Phonostage www.hifipig.com 29. Icon Audio MB30 SE Power Amps Telephone: +33 (0)2 97 23 70 78 E mail: [email protected] 34. Nuforce DAC80 DAC and HA200 Headphone Amp 43. Magnific Acoustics M521 Loudspeaker MUSIC 51. Oak Audio Hurricane Loudspeaker 96-114 MUSIC AND GIG 58. Wyred4Sound Remedy (Digital Reclocker) REVIEWS 63. MCRU Excelsior DC Blocker 115. THE CLASSICS. JOHN SCOTT PLAYS THE YES ALBUM 68. Free Android Apps For Audiophiles INTERVIEWS 119. HIFI PIG GOES BEHIND THE BRANDS WITH RUSSELL KAUFFMAN, CREATOR OF RUSSELL K LOUDSPEAKERS COLUMNS 73. RETRO BITES JANINE ELLIOT LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF STAX 76. THE VOICE OF DOM DOMINIC MARSH TALKS MAINS CABLES (PART 2) 81. FIDELITY MATTERS IAN RINGSTEAD TALKS HIFI SHOWS 83. THE VIEWS OF STU STUART SMITH DECODES CABLE WARS 86. BIRDS EYE VIEW LINETTE SMITH DISCUSSES WAF 89. DEALERS VIEW WITH MIKE TWOMEY 91. READERS LIVES WITH DAVE ROBSON 3 Hifi Pig www.hifipig.com WELCOME TO HIFI PIG EXTRA 4 Hifi Pig www.hifipig.com ENTOTEM PLATO Philosophically Speaking The Entotem Plato is an all in one audio video player that will rip and tag not only your CDs but also your vinyl collection. Ian Ringstead takes a listen. 5 Hifi Pig www.hifipig.com ENTOTEM PLATO his review has been harder to write than any launch. As a vinyl nut through and through I was of the others I have done for Hifi Pig because asked to particularly look at a unique feature of Pla- Tthe product involved is essentially a high to’s capabilities – its ability to record analogue sourc- quality computer based es and archive them. I’ll audio visual unit. This is The system connects cover this later but let’s not a criticism of it at all; first look at the company it’s just that when I was in to your existing hifi behind this unit. retail AV equipment took units such as your Entotem Ltd are a high over from hifi stereo technology company equipment in the mid to turntable, cassette founded in 2013 by four late nineties as the thing music loving entrepre- to have and traditional hi- deck ( neurs who had the vision fi took a back seat to and CD player, and passion to develop some extent. It was also and design a multimedia the time that the internet as well as DVD, Blu home entertainment sys- started to become popu- tem, which integrated lar, especially the early ray player, VCR and both high definition video noughties. TV sets. and high resolution audio Computers are now a way amplification. The com- of life, as is the internet, pany’s vision was a sys- and where would we be without them or our smart tem that combined the ability to convert, play and phones now. I use mine constantly… but as a source record analogue music with a high resolution audio, for hifi? Well let me introduce you to Plato, a brand video and internet streaming service supported by an new product only debuted last February at the Bristol android operating system. show, but one that has been making waves since its 6 Hifi Pig www.hifipig.com ENTOTEM PLATO The system connects to Designed very much or streamed to a tablet or your existing hifi units smart TV using your such as your turntable, like a desk top home wi-fi network. cassette deck (remember The built in Android plat- those)and CD player, as computer, Plato has form allows new develop- well as DVD, Blu ray a series of modules ments and upgrades to be player, VCR and TV sets. pushed to the user so their Plato will automatically that can be slotted investment is safeguarded record from legacy ana- and essentially future logue devices and then into the back of the proofed. The Android replays at the highest system is soon to be fol- quality, allowing you to unit onto the chassis lowed by an Apple iOS store all your vinyl, CD’s, version by the end of the video and DVD collec- for easy servicing year meaning there is no tions in one place. Plato and upgrades. need for a separate remote can store DVD/film for- with a companion An- mats (converted on a droid app through touch- computer first and then transferred to Plato via USB) screen allowing for control by the user as to what is which can then be played either through a TV using being played and in which room. direct HDMI connection between the TV and Plato, Power amplifier Module 7 Hifi Pig www.hifipig.com ENTOTEM PLATO Power Supply Module The Entotem Plato can be easily I recorded be viewed through your TV, tab- integrated with other DLNA (Dig- several albums let or mobile. ital Living Network Alliance) sys- A very useful feature is tems and this is something I did to and when Gracenote which is used to pro- good advantage. It means you vide easy recognition of your mu- don’t have to have cables trailing finished sic and track/album artwork all over, using your houses mains allowed the which is displayed on the front wiring to transfer the signals screen either when a track is play- quickly and reliably without any software to ing or during a search. You can drop outs. You can play different build your library of recorded ma- music in different rooms through seamlessly terial from analogue or digital a system like Sonos. Streaming sources onto the ample 2TB built- over the internet is possible listen- write these to in hard drive. ing to the thousands of radio sta- CONSTRUCTION tions out there on the www. the hard drive Spotify and other music sources and add to the The unit is very neat being only can be accessed as well as You 370mm wide by 300mm deep by Tube music videos and they can media library. 130mm high. It is substantially built from high quality alumini- 8 Hifi Pig www.hifipig.com ENTOTEM PLATO um and weighs 14Kg… so it isn’t a lightweight. reckon they decided these were a safer option than the Controls are few on the front panel with just a discrete usual 4mm binding posts or sockets associated with power switch, USB socket and the touchscreen. The hifi kit and fair enough as I had no problem with them. front corners are curved Entotem will provide the and make for a very smart CD recordings relevant connectors if re- appearance which my quested, or I am sure your wife approved of. De- again were faithful dealer would oblige. For signed very much like a standard cables this desk top computer, Plato to the original and shouldn’t be a problem, has a series of modules but if you have expensive that can be slotted into the Gracenote was cables and connectors an back of the unit onto the adapter lead may have to chassis for easy servicing excellent in tagging be made as Neutrik don’t and upgrades. Power out- do a high-end plug for put is 45watts RMS per everything hifi use. (Maybe someone channel into 8 ohms (ster- accurately. might manufacture one?) eo) but sounds louder IN USE than that, and can drive a I particularly concentrat- variety of different speak- ed on the vinyl facility of Plato as it is my love and ers no problem. Entotem spent a lot of time and was pleasantly surprised how good it was. I played money developing the amplifier and wanted it to be several albums to get a feel for the sound and let the audiophile quality, not just another AV amp. system settle in and warm up. As soon as you put a There is a dedicated phono input for your turntable record on the Gracenote software quickly identifies which caters for both mm and mc cartridges and has the album and each track, displaying the artwork and variable settings for output level, impedance and ca- details on the Plato screen and your tablet. The sound pacitance and a rumble filter. The designers are pas- was crisp, detailed and open, being very good for an sionate about their audio and particularly like vinyl so AV unit which isn’t always the case, even on more this is well covered by a very good and versatile expensive and well known brands I have used in the design. The settings can be changed on the fly as you past. use the unit so instant comparisons and adjustments The versatility is exceptional for a unit of this type. can be made. The Plato also has three other line inputs When archiving your records it is very simple to on RCA sockets which can all be individually as- operate – Select your record, play a few seconds of it signed a name etc, and four digital inputs, one coax through the system to check your record levels and and three optical. There are two optical outputs. On make sure these aren’t too high (otherwise distortion the front panel is a USB socket for importing or will ruin the recording) by altering the settings on exporting files onto or off Plato. Speaker connection Plato via your tablet or the front screen, press the is by two Neutrik speakon output sockets which are a record symbol after re-cueing the record and away pro industry standard for safety and reliability (also you go.