2024 has flown by, and yet again a whole range of new products have arrived on the market. At ‘The Barn’ we try to cater for all tastes and all price points….be it the turntable someone has always aspired to and only just been able to afford with retirement funds, or that first ‘proper’ digital hi-fi setup in a new home.
Latest additions to our portfolio are the excellent new Quad 33/303 pre and power amplifiers priced at a very competitive £1,199 each. They are on demo now in our valve room.
Also arriving just in time for Christmas we have the Antipodes Oladra music server and streamer. It will be burning in over our Christmas shutdown, and we look forward to bringing more information on this beauty in the New Year. If its smaller sibling, the KALA K50 is anything to go by, it is sure to be quite an intoxicating piece of hi-fi.
Our Staff Picks for 2024
So as we did last year, we thought it might be fun for each of us to pick out the new product we have most enjoyed this year, and there were quite a few to choose from. So in no particular order:
Ben’s choice
It’s been a great year for new kit arriving at the Barn, but for me, the Vertere CALON phono stage gets my vote for my Product of the Year. Vertere achieved a level of performance from their PHONO-1 phono stage which far outweighed its price point and somehow they have achieved this again with their ultra high end CALON. If you have spoken with me about the CALON, you have probably heard me say that if I blind tested the CALON originally, I would have put it in a price bracket of at least double its actual price! The stunning reference level analogue sound coming from every system that the CALON goes into is truly amazing. It’s nearly impossible to analyse the sound with HiFi terminology, as it just delivers at such a high level in every single aspect…..and in case you’re wondering, it performs at the same high level with whichever brand of cartridge is picking up the music from the record groove!
Ben
Vertere Calon information here
Graeme’s choice
My product of the year 2024 is the Wilson Benesch Discovery stand mount speakers. These have blown me away with their innate naturalness and the way in which they convey the emotion of the music, it’s the thrill of a goose bump ride. The pin point soundstage they portray is huge and as a recent demotee said “where have the speakers gone?!”, as these speakers completely disappear in the sound field. They have the type of bass I adore, clean, fast, impactful without a hint of bloat. They are easy on the eye and sit so well within the home, brownie points galore. Why do I love them, they bring me in to the heart of the music, I’m there and the musicians are my guests.
Graeme
Wilson Benesch Discovery 3zero information here
Bryan’s choice
The Vertere Pulse HB is very much one of those products you can’t unhear once you have heard it. What is more, despite its high-end price tag, it seductively reveals the music your system is capable of reproducing, and in doing so, presents itself as something of a bargain! In my home system, this meant a greater tonal density. A more convincing presentation of just about everything….from strings and percussion, to vocal presentation. Overall clarity and soundstage are as never heard before in this setup. How a cable can do this only Touraj at Vertere has the answer. I am busy saving up for one in time for next Christmas!
Bryan
Vertere Pulse HB information here
Jack’s choice
The Rubikore 6 gets my vote as one of the most consistent performers I can remember at any price point. They excel on every amplifier we’ve tried, be it £1,200 from Rega or £17,000 from Vitus. They have a natural warmth that just sounds so rich and sweet, with the hybrid tweeter arrangement they are both detailed and articulate. The build quality is rarely seen at this price and I think they’re about the best in terms of a value for money proposition.
Whilst the Rubikore 6 feels the sweet spot in the range, there should be a special mention for the Rubikore 2 stand mounts and the larger 8’s. The whole range is a credit to the engineers at Dali who have outdone themselves as the previous Rubicon range was already fantastic!
Jack
Dali Rubikore 6 information here
Summing up
It’s been another incredible year of new product releases. There are simply too many to list and each of the designs we choose to put on demonstration have their own merits. Above all else, they have to bring great joy and reward to your music listening experience. See you in 2025!