Auna / OneConcept
Tempered Glass Speaker Stands BS-03S
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Beautiful, modern speaker stands which can hold up to 10 kg in weight. The top plate is 20 x 20 cm, the bottom plate is a bit larger (25 cm square) and the height is 44 cm from the ground. They arrive in a flat pack with illustrated instructions and are very easy to assemble by hand and with the little spanner provided.
The columns are made of aluminium painted glossy black with an MDF front panel (also black in my set). Inside, an aluminium rod connects the top and bottom plates made of tempered glass with rounded off corners. The stands are solid but not very heavy (5 lbs each). The spiked feet are said to improve the sound by gripping on carpet, minimizing rocking of the stand. On hard floors like tiles or parquet, their purpose is more to level the stand and provide coupling. Opinions vary, but if you don't believe in the benefits of using pins, or don't want to scratch a wooden floor, you can always add floor pads, a piece of cork, or even a penny. |
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The soft silicone circles (stuck to the glass top) stop the speaker sliding about and provide a little separation. Another nice feature is the two rubber openings along the central column which allow a cable to be threaded inside the stand, giving a very clean look. Apart from the great aesthetics, we found a big difference in sound quality when the speakers are on these stands, as opposed to the floor. Not only are the speakers at the correct level for the ears of a seated person, but the bass is much improved.
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V-15 Vertical CD Player
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This was a very pleasant surprise. Just like in the photos, the unit looks amazing, very sleek and streamlined. But the real surprise was the sound, far richer than I expected. It is complex, warm and precise without the woolly bass tones that have become so frequent and quite annoying.
In the box, the CD player unit was well packed in styrofoam, with a remote control (which requires a CR2025 round battery, already in place but needing to be unlocked), and an instruction manual in English and German. The player is made all in one piece, with the two speakers incorporated at either end, and supported on a central stand. The stand is removable, should you wish to hang the player on the wall. A template is provided for that but not the screws. Operation is very simple. The usual navigation buttons are on the top and also on the remote. The CD reader plate is mounted vertically and is accessed via a button which opens the door. You click the disk into place, command the door to slide closed and the CD starts playing by default. Some programming functions are available: after setting the correct time, you can program a sleep timer. In CD and USB reading modes, you can create a playlist of up to 20 tracks. Playback includes a repeat function for a single track or the whole CD, or can be set to Random. All of these memory functions will be reset if the CD Player is disconnected from the mains. |
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The unit can play music from a CD or USB flash drive (standard 1.1 and 2.0), as well as function as an FM radio (there is a flexible antenna at the back). A standard 3.5 mm auxiliary input allows connection to an mp3 player.
I find the sound quality excellent, regardless of the style of music played. It's really pleasing, rich and round, perfectly balanced between bass and treble and with good separation in the middle range. The volume is loud enough for the average room but does not blast your head off. There is an X-Bass option and, to enhance the experience, you can select some EQ presets: Classic, Pop, Jazz, Rock. There is a model with Bluetooth, but I have the one without. With so much emphasis on digital music, I thought a CD player might feel obsolete, but I was wrong. Since it arrived, I have played it almost every day and I'm rediscovering my large collection of CDs in all their original full-sound glory.
I find the sound quality excellent, regardless of the style of music played. It's really pleasing, rich and round, perfectly balanced between bass and treble and with good separation in the middle range. The volume is loud enough for the average room but does not blast your head off. There is an X-Bass option and, to enhance the experience, you can select some EQ presets: Classic, Pop, Jazz, Rock. There is a model with Bluetooth, but I have the one without. With so much emphasis on digital music, I thought a CD player might feel obsolete, but I was wrong. Since it arrived, I have played it almost every day and I'm rediscovering my large collection of CDs in all their original full-sound glory.
Tower 70 Wireless Speakers |
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Really pleased with these cool and impressive speakers. This set was sent to me for evaluation and they have greatly surpassed my expectations. They arrived really well packed in a white box containing the various components packed in separate smaller boxes and protected by bubble-wrap. In the box:
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The transmitter is live once plugged in and a blue LED light indicates ON status. A green Signal spy lights up when the speakers are actively receiving sound. There is a power-saving automatic off mode which kicks in after four minutes of inactivity. The great advantage of this setup is the wireless connectivity which allows you to move the speakers up to 100 metres away from the audio source and transmitter (this applies to clear, unobstructed space).
The speakers' clean, modern lines make them sleek but discreet. In white, they almost blend with the background. They are bigger than I expected, 25 cm or 10 inches high with a diameter of 13 cm or 5 inches and since they are splash-resistant, they can be used around a pool. They have rubber pads which allow them to be stood on one round end, or placed sideways. For wireless use, each speaker is powered by 6 AA batteries (not included, so you need to have those available). If you plan to use the speakers in a stable position, you can use the adapters and simply plug them in (in which case you need three power points or a power bar). While you have the battery compartment open, remember to set the switch as appropriate for your source: Right, Left or Mono.
The speakers' clean, modern lines make them sleek but discreet. In white, they almost blend with the background. They are bigger than I expected, 25 cm or 10 inches high with a diameter of 13 cm or 5 inches and since they are splash-resistant, they can be used around a pool. They have rubber pads which allow them to be stood on one round end, or placed sideways. For wireless use, each speaker is powered by 6 AA batteries (not included, so you need to have those available). If you plan to use the speakers in a stable position, you can use the adapters and simply plug them in (in which case you need three power points or a power bar). While you have the battery compartment open, remember to set the switch as appropriate for your source: Right, Left or Mono.
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We tested the speakers in wireless mode and found that they work flawlessly, but my long-term use is as replacement for my old speakers and subwoofer set which had lost right-channel capabilities. In their permanent location, the speakers are plugged in.
Once connected to your audio source, each speaker can be switched on individually, and volume and tuning adjusted separately. At the back of the transmitter there is a choice of two channels to minimize interference and you can always refresh the signal with the tuning buttons. The remote control influences the speakers as a pair via a single round dial with Volume Up, Volume Down, Tune and Mute.
In use these speakers are amazing. Really big sound, clean and crisp and the bass is there but not boomy or muffled as per the current craze. They render speech very clearly and are fine with music of different genres. If you play around with the volume and tuning, as well as speaker placement, the results are very pleasing. Top marks for performance, ease of installation, sound quality, and sheer good looks.
Once connected to your audio source, each speaker can be switched on individually, and volume and tuning adjusted separately. At the back of the transmitter there is a choice of two channels to minimize interference and you can always refresh the signal with the tuning buttons. The remote control influences the speakers as a pair via a single round dial with Volume Up, Volume Down, Tune and Mute.
In use these speakers are amazing. Really big sound, clean and crisp and the bass is there but not boomy or muffled as per the current craze. They render speech very clearly and are fine with music of different genres. If you play around with the volume and tuning, as well as speaker placement, the results are very pleasing. Top marks for performance, ease of installation, sound quality, and sheer good looks.
5.1 Surround Sound System Areal 525
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This Auna surround sound system consists of a subwoofer, five satellite speakers (total 95W RMS power), an AUX cable and three RCA cables, an instruction manual in English and German and a remote control. I particularly like the ability to adjust the volume of each speaker separately via the remote.
In detail, there is a reflex bass unit (at the back one can find all the connections, the power cable, the On/Off switch), a central speaker, two front speakers (left and right), and two surround sound speakers (left and right) to be arranged around the room for best effect. I received a sample unit for independent evaluation and was very glad to see that connecting the bass unit to set up the system is very simple as the satellite speakers have their own hard-wired cable and the rear panel is colour coded in red and white. |
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There are two types of audio inputs: DVD with three pairs of ports (RCA cables); and auxiliary with a right and a left port (AUX cable) to connect, for example, an audio device or a computer.
Given the price point, I was surprised by the sound quality, regardless of the style of music played. It's really excellent, rich and round, perfectly balanced between bass and treble and with enough volume for a large room. I use it mostly in connection with a vinyl record player, and all my favourite music comes alive when played through this system.
As for aesthetics, I was sent the white lacquered model, and I find it quite edgy and elegant, particularly suited to a modern decor. I am really delighted with this system. I think it's a great choice for home cinema at a very moderate price.
Given the price point, I was surprised by the sound quality, regardless of the style of music played. It's really excellent, rich and round, perfectly balanced between bass and treble and with enough volume for a large room. I use it mostly in connection with a vinyl record player, and all my favourite music comes alive when played through this system.
As for aesthetics, I was sent the white lacquered model, and I find it quite edgy and elegant, particularly suited to a modern decor. I am really delighted with this system. I think it's a great choice for home cinema at a very moderate price.
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Vinyl Record Player USB 182TT
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I know this may sound strange to many, but there is nothing like the scratchy sound of a pickup needle travelling along a vinyl groove to bring back the atmosphere of those heady, carefree days. I'm not sure what it is, but vinyl records do sound a bit different and, if you are like me, you have a stash of old 33s and even 45s gathering dust in a box.
New-generation vinyl players are enjoying a revival and there is a sea of them. I looked but could not make up my mind, until I got the chance to try this Auna model and now my search is over. This discreet, light-weight unit fits into the smallest space, only requiring a little shoulder room for the integrated speakers (not all new turntables have them). |
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There are optional jacks for connection to hi-fi speakers or an amplifier, but the onboard speakers are surprisingly loud and the sound quality is more than adequate for such a compact unit. When judging sound quality, one must be realistic and keep in mind the very accessible cost of this player. If you are after top sound, then you will need to shop at a much higher price level.
The playing arm is delicate-looking but the lightness makes it possible to drop the needle with great accuracy. For records so enabled, there is an auto-stop function which works flawlessly. When not in use, I like to lock the arm and put the needle guard back in place. This player has all the essentials without the fluff. There is a volume control, a tone knob and a pitch slider but the main thing for me is the option to connect to any computer USB port, allowing digital recording of those silky vinyl tones. |
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