2024, the year of the audiophile!
It's a well-known fact that autumn and winter are the seasons for cocooning while most people hibernate at home. There are outdoor enthusiasts, but climate change sometimes forces us to stay warm and warm at home.
Why get bored?
For great evenings, opt for a good meal, a small glass of what you enjoy the most and let's finish it all off with a movie or a close listen to what modern audio equipment has to offer.
The watchwords: relaxation, respite from busy days and simply escape!
We offer a short list of audio products available at your Sonxplus. These products will be useful for soundproofing your home like never before.
Before you begin.
We'd like to share with you two higher-performing online music services. All service providers claim to offer high-fidelity, let's just say it's relative!
As we explained in a past blog, the secret lies in the transmission of music data called "losseless", i.e. without compression. Methods that actually offer this are called "FLAC" as well as "DSD"
The two services currently offering losseless music via Flac are called "Deezer" and "Qobuz" The others are far from assured...
Deezer offers the minimum in terms of lossless quality and is offered as an integral part of most network drives and receivers on the market.
As far as Qobuz is concerned, we are in another league while the service offers a majority of musical equipment in "Hirez" for a quality similar to the master tapes in the studios!
Stop by the in-store comparison listening, you won't want anything else, especially for less than $15 a month which is the same price as less efficient services. The only problem is that Qobuz is available in fewer North American devices, because it's too new to our market. Of course you can do "Casting" or casting via Chromecast, but there is a loss versus an integrated service. Two manufacturers offer Qobuz in their products offered at Sonxplus: Cambridge Audio and Sonos, with others to follow.
Our Cinema Receivers
Yamaha RXV4: Base model.
The RXV4 features 5.2 sound reinforcement for full cinema listening.
This model, introduced in 2020, remains a safe bet, although the lack of a physical button on the front makes it less user-friendly.
With 80 watts on 5 amplified channels aided by 1 or 2 subwoofers, it will do the job well. The 4 HDMI inputs as well as the possibility of installing Musicast wireless speakers by Yamaha, will make it easy and convenient to use.
Denon AVR-X1800: A home run by Denon!
Here's a great value, as this model is packed with features for only $999.
The AVR-X1800 offers 7.2 channels with the possibility of Dolby Atmos sound reinforcement. You can assign a stereo output to a second amplified zone to provide sound to another room or ceiling speakers. The Audyssey system will allow a perfect calibration of your home theater with the help of a very explanatory and easy-to-follow TV interface.
- 7 x 80 watts
Yamaha RXA4: A little further, a little higher!
The RXA4 offers an increased power of 7 times 110 Watts RMS. Versatile, it offers 7 HDMI inputs/3 outputs™ in 8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz and HDR10+ for maximum visual performance transfer to your TV.
For Dolby Atmos, a pitch "virtualizer" simulates the sound from height, while for listening to music online, Yamaha's Musicast system allows you to listen to radio from all over the world!
The RXA4 is a massive device with a five-point suspension system for better stability. The "H Cross" chassis makes it even more rigid so that the vibrations of the part do not interfere with the rendering.
The software components are top-notch, such as a Sabre ES9007S chip for cinema audio decoding and management via Qualcomm QCS407. 4 year warranty.
Anthem MRX 740 8K: The Ultimate Made in Canada!
11.2-channel preamplified output, 7-channel A/V receiver amplified with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and IMAX "Enhanced". Continuous power of 140 watts per channel into 8 ohms. Includes CRA (Computer Room Correction). HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.3 supporting 8K/60Hz or 4K/120H.
Everything is superior in terms of presentation, such as the stainless steel calibration microphone or the exclusive red circuit boards! A beautiful and very good Canadian product.
You can configure your amplified outputs as you wish, such as assigning a second zone or requesting a biamp for listening through very high-end speakers, because although Anthem's MRX series is dedicated to home theater, the components are likely to support true HIGH FIDELITY, which few manufacturers offer.
A word about the ARC Genesis integrated software.
ARC Genesis is the newest software that works with many ARC-enabled Anthem or Paradigm products. New features include support for Mac and Windows; new target curve adjustment options, including deep bass and high frequencies; an improved algorithm and much more.
ARC Genesis is backwards compatible with many ANTHEM and Paradigm products that are compatible with ARC or PBK (Paradigm Subwoofer Calibration). This third generation of Anthem Room Correction software represents a significant leap forward in room correction with the most comprehensive feature set to date. ARC Genesis transforms the audio performance of compatible speakers or electronics while maintaining the uniqueness of any room. This software allows you to completely neutralize the counter-effects of your listening room. In store, we'll demonstrate it to you, that's for sure!
Our Stereo Receivers
Denon PMA-600NE: Small but versatile
The PMA-600 offers quality and power at a very good price
- 90 watts RMS.
- Phono input for record player.
- Bluetooth reception.
- Digital decoder capable of supporting 192 Kz per 24 bits deep. (Hires)
- Two-output power transformer, power and control.
Yamaha RN1000: A network player combo receiver for audiophiles.
Yamaha embraces modernity with this amplifier for a musical space of pure bliss! The R-N1000A uses a 384 kHz/32-bit DAC ES9080Q SABRE chip from ESS to deliver superior signal-to-noise ratio performance. The higher the frame rate (384Khz), the more easily and flexibly the dynamic rendering is expressed.
Yes! The RN1000 integrates Qobuz that we told you about at the outset while Yamaha does not offer Qobuz in all its products. The integration of Qobuz is a guarantee of seriousness in "audiophile" hence our recommendation of this model in particular.
- Wifi
- Bluetooth
- 200 Watts RMS with peaks at 580 Watts Peak.
- Low Distortion 0.07%
- HDMI ARC
- Absolute frequency response of 10 Hz-100 kHz 0 ±1.0 dB
- Phono and sub out.
Our Paradigm Speakers
Paradigm is a Canadian company founded by Scott Bagby 41 years ago. The brand's reputation is worldwide.
3 series are offered:
Founder Series
The Founder series is the brand's newest offering. The hand-assembled components are flawless, the angular shape of the cases is fascinating and the sound is flawlessly very close to perfection.
There's even a hybrid model incorporating a 1000 Watt amplification that you calibrate by computer at home with the ARC software. We can write a volume on these sound boxes, just drop by the store and listen to them.
Monitor Series
Affordable, this series is for the serious amateur who is looking for a fair sound without artifacts with solid bass and crisp, precise highs.
View Monitor SE products here!
Premier Series
The Premier Series has been designed through extensive scientific research. The scientific approach is the pride of Paradigm, because we are not guided by the sound preferences of the craftsmen, but by the results obtained in test chambers and comparison of the results by computer. A future article will explain the ins and outs of this approach...
SONOS: Wireless Multi-Room Solution
Come and see us at Sonxplus, a significant part of the store is dedicated to the Sonos product offering wireless connectivity for your soundbars, ambient cinema speakers as well as stereo. A stand-alone amplifier, on the other hand, can be used as a source for a speaker system in your ceilings or outdoors.
Here is our first blog of 2024, a year that we hope will be enjoyable. For sure, if we put music in the comfort of our own home, we will have the best chance of having a good one!
So, happy new year and...
Stay tuned!
Sonxplus offers you a choice of all the top brands.
Need more information? Our advisors are equipped to answer your questions and guide you, according to your needs.