Four unmissable deals from our Pre-Loved list

Who doesn’t love a good bargain?

If you carry a soft spot for high end audio products that represent incredible value, you’re probably already aware of our ever-popular Pre-Loved list. Our selection of preowned listening solutions regularly features some of the biggest names in high end audio - all available to own at a significant saving from their original retail price.

Our current list includes a whole slew of fabulously reviewed, award-winning products - a real embarrassment of HiFi riches. So for this month’s blog, we thought we’d preview four of the best deals we currently have available. All four offer listeners a remarkable opportunity to seriously level up their listening for significantly less.

All items are in an immaculate, unmarked condition and will be supplied in their original manufacturer's packaging. All prices are inclusive of VAT - if you wish to have products delivered, this will carry an extra charge. 

Got questions or want to book in a demo? Get in touch!

PMC Twenty5 26 Loudspeakers 

Featured in our monthly newsletter in November, this is an absolutely fabulous opportunity to add PMC's much admired and highly rated Twenty5.26 loudspeakers to your system, for a fraction of their retail price. 

Winner of The Ear's 'Editor's Choice' award, in a review which concluded, "My music is just more thrilling and enjoyable in its hands than it is with an awful lot of speakers."

These Walnut Finish speakers come boxed and in excellent condition, as a result of a customer trade-in. 

RRP: £7,995-00

Sale Price: £3,750-00

Kudos Super 20a Loudspeakers

The Super 20a loudspeakers from Kudos Audio remain one of the most popular models that Kudos has ever produced, and it’s not difficult to see why. The Kudos brand was launched with the Cardea series, and the Super 20A is the topmost development of the series. 

Over its lifetime, the Super 20a received a whole host of awards from various different outlets, including an AV Forums ‘Best Buy’ award in which the influential audio publication referred to the floorstanding loudspeaker as “a masterpiece”

“There is a fluency to how the Kudos performs that is simply outstanding. The relationship between the two drivers is utterly seamless and it effectively leaves your ear and subconscious happy with the idea that you’re listening to a single point of sound”. 

These speakers are Kantata Audio ex-demo units in perfect condition, and come in walnut finish.

RRP: £5,700-00

Sale Price: £3,495-00

Auralic Altair G2.1 Music Streaming Server & DAC

Auralic’s top-of-the-range streaming server is an all-encompassing digital and analog source component for the deeply performance-oriented G2.1 Series. Flagship engineering, abundant connectivity, tonnes of streaming options, and a built in Moving Magnet phono stage make this a product that does almost everything and then some - an all-rounder that delivers incredible sound quality at every turn.

In their glowing review, Hifi Plus argued… “The most comprehensively equipped member of AURALiC’s G2.1 family does an awful lot of what matters in high-resolution streaming with consummate ease…those looking to hear what a serious streamer is capable of will find an awful lot to like in this superbly executed piece of kit.”

In this one unit you get a class-leading streamer, DAC, preamplifier and phono stage. This piece also comes with 1TB SSD of internal storage pre-installed for free!

RRP: £5,299-00
Sale Price: £3,250-00

Exposure VXN Active Crossover & Power Supply

This VXN active crossover from Exposure gives you the tantalising opportunity to open up Kudos Audio loudspeakers in active configuration for under £2000 (plus the cost of additional amplification and cables). Compatible with the Kudos Super 20a loudspeakers mentioned above, you can also use this excellent piece of kit with the Kudos Super 10a, Titan 505, and Titan 606 models.

Ed Selley’s review of an active Kudos and Exposure system for HiFi + described this set up as ‘best in class’, calling it “the ultimate expression of what a Hi-Fi should be and a benchmark that I have no idea how I might top.”

This unit is supplied with its excellent power supply, and comes ex-demo from us here at Kantata Audio in as-new condition.

RRP: £2,860-00

Sale Price: £1895-00

Interested in demoing these, or any other pre-loved products with Kantata Audio? Simply get in touch! But don’t wait too long - once these deals are gone, they’re gone for good!

The Belfast Audio Show 2024 Roundup!

Here at Kantata, we’re still recovering from a fabulous weekend at Belfast Audio Show 2024. 

For the first time, we set out to create a product showcase that was worthy of the discerning HiFi enthusiasts of Northern Ireland - with a real variation of systems, electronics, and listening types. We wanted to offer something for every music lover to enjoy - regardless of your preferences or price point - whilst still maintaining a seriously high level of quality throughout each room and exhibitor.

In this regard, we feel like Belfast Audio Show 2024 certainly hit the brief! Over 250 people joined us at The Stormont Hotel across the weekend - a brilliant turnout. The Stormont proved a great venue for us, with good sized rooms for all our exhibitors and great facilities for relaxing between listens.

The real cause for celebration, however, were our participating brands. Each of them passionately engaged with the event, and provided attendees with an excellent snapshot of why they maintain their unquestionable position at the very top of their respective fields. 

In the atrium, the team at Vinyl Matters provided a wonderful record stall that was incredibly well received by our guests - and corridor exhibitions by Audite Acoustics and Custom Designs were equally a brilliant addition to the show. But what about the demo rooms? Let’s take a look at each in turn, and see what they had in store for our visitors. 

A quick, special thanks to Neil Hallworth of Audiophile Musings for his kind permission to use his photos in this piece. You can read his fascinating and in-depth show report here.

MBL

One of the real highlights of the weekend was showcasing MBL’s stunning products to Northern Irish music lovers for the first time. To mark the start of our exclusive retail partnership with the 100% made-in-Germany brand, we featured MBL in multiple rooms throughout the show - including their own, dedicated, complete system.

From their incredibly popular demo room, MBL presented their Noble line of electronics - including the N31 CD/DAC with optional Roon module, an N51 integrated stereo amp, and a pair of Radialstrahler loudspeakers. An Innuos Zen Mini server, utilised as a Roon core, accompanied the all-MBL setup. 

The reception from attendees was incredibly positive - plenty of interest, with barely a free seat in the room throughout the weekend. 

VERTERE

Vertere Acoustics (a constant favourite for our customers) presented a stunning selection of their best analogue listening products, comprehensively supported by MBL. MBL’s N15 Mono power amplifiers and N11 pre-amplifier accompanied a pair of MBL’s iconic R101 E MkII loudspeakers - a seriously impressive suite of products

Vertere used the weekend to offer their ever-popular product comparison demonstrations - initially presenting tracks from a mid-range Vetere system featuring an MG record player and PHONO-1 phono stage. These were then directly compared to the upper-range SG record player and new, remarkable CALON pre-amplifier. The leap up in performance was unmistakably vast, and left every listener visibly impressed.

Vertere also featured their highly-popular and entry-level-priced DG-1S and Dark Sabre package - fresh from its fifth What HiFi? Award in a row. It was incredibly well received by visitors, elevated even further by the addition of their new Dark Sabre cartridge. 

HEGEL / AMPHION

Photo Credit: Neil Hallworth, Audiophile Musings

Hegel and Amphion shared a room - presenting an unquestionably high-end yet sensibly priced system that delighted listeners across the board.

Hegel took the opportunity to present their all-new H400 integrated streaming amplifier - nicknamed ‘The Streamliner’ - a product that is designed to replace the much-loved H390. Early reviews have been glowing, and it wasn’t difficult to see why. This one-box product does it all, and then some. Neither short on power nor convenience of use.

This was paired with Amphion’s outstanding Argon 3S loudspeakers, a pair of Custom Design stands, and cabling and power from Audiomica. The result was a modest-sized home system that absolutely enveloped the room - an incredibly impressive achievement.

GRAHAM AUDIO / EXPOSURE

Photo Credit: Neil Hallworth, Audiophile Musings

The next presentation saw two iconic British brands teaming up to present a splendidly comprehensive system. Exposure provided a full suite of 3510 electronics including CD transport, pre-amplifier and mono power amplifiers, all working alongside a pair of Graham Audio’s LS5/9f floorstanders. 

Graham Audio’s loudspeakers (now available throughout Ireland courtesy of Kantata Audio) never disappoint, and paired with the robust performance of Exposure’s brilliantly-made 3510 series made for a deeply enjoyable system. 

AUDIOQUEST

Our friends at AudioQuest took the opportunity to combine multiple brands in a system designed to really showcase the transcendent effects of their leading-level cabling and power products. The star of the show was a Niagara 5000 Power Conditioner, that fed beautifully clean power to an MBL C41 Network Player DAC and C21 Stereo Power Amp. These in turn were accompanied by a pair of Kudos Titan 505s - all, of course, comprehensively cabled by AudioQuest.

This was one of the most interestingly assembled systems at the show and was justifiably well received by attendees throughout the weekend. 

MOOR AMPS

Photo Credit: Neil Hallworth, Audiophile Musings

Moor Amps are an undoubted and unwavering audiophile favourite - and they weren’t shy of delivering plenty of this crowd-pleasing quality at this year’s Belfast Audio Show. Their system featured an absolute abundance of their most popular products, including the Angel Pre preamplifer, Angel 6 Stereo Power Amplifier, and their floorstanding Ascalon-8 loudspeakers.

An incredibly popular room here - with many attendees marking it out as a highlight of the weekend. 

EPOS 

Photo Credit: Neil Hallworth, Audiophile Musings

EPOS’ ES14N has garnered much praise in recent months - and justifiably so, in our opinion! These stunning speakers were presented in a system that included an Innuos server, Merason Frerot DAC with the POW1 power supply upgrade, and an Angel 4 stereo power amplifier and Angel Pre from fellow exhibitors Moor Amps.

The result was a really quite sublime system that never struggled to present a beautiful soundstage and performance. Many visitors spent a long time in this room - and we can totally understand why! 

This system was the proud winner of Audiophile Musing’s SOUND OF THE SHOW Award! You can read their full review here.

INNUOS

Photo Credit: Neil Hallworth, Audiophile Musings

The team at Innuos assembled a wonderful system for their own dedicated room. Having featured in class-leading systems right throughout the show (as they so often do at HiFi shows) it was a treat for all listeners to experience a system with specific emphasis put on their peerless products. 

Their excellent Innuos Zen NG Music Server was the star of the system in a setup that included a Moor Amps Angel Pre / Angel 6 Power amp and a Merason Reuss DAC. This system also featured Ophidian’s brand new and visually striking Ffion loudspeakers - a brilliant addition to a wonderful setup.

OPHIDIAN

Photo Credit: Neil Hallworth, Audiophile Musings

Last but certainly not least, Ophidian excelled in their own dedicated room. An Innuos Zen Mini S and LPSU power supply serviced a pair of Ophidian Incanto floorstanding loudspeakers, powered by Exposure 3510 amplifier and preamp. A real audible treat, beautifully presented by Ophidian.

Ophidian are considered to be one of the most interesting loudspeaker brands operating in contemporary HiFi, and with this system they proved exactly why. This room provided a lively and deeply impressive sound that was richly received by listeners. 

So there you have it! Our sincerest thanks has to go to every one of our exhibitors for making the first ever Belfast Audio Show a resounding success. And of course, an equally warm thanks to all who attended to support these incredible brands.

We hope to see you all again next year! And don’t forget, you can demo many of the products you saw on display with us at Kantata Audio. Reach out to us for more.

Introducing MBL - Everything you need to know

What can you expect from our latest brand addition?

Last month, we announced a new and truly exciting partnership with elite German audio designers, MBL. From November, Kantata Audio will become the exclusive retailer of MBL’s transformative listening products across Northern Ireland and Ireland, marking the brand’s first entry into the market. 

MBL represents a wholly unique approach to loudspeaker design - marking them out as truly distinctive in a crowded and competitive market. Their products are 100% manufactured in their state of the art factory facility near Berlin - one of Germany’s largest premium audio manufacturing facilities.

To celebrate this new partnership, we’ll be featuring MBL systems at various price points at the Belfast Audio Show on November 2nd-3rd. Tickets for that event are completely free, making it a tantalising opportunity to come and experience the transcendent qualities of MBL for yourself. It’s not one we’d recommend missing!

In this month’s blog, we wanted to take some time to introduce you to MBL in a little more detail. We’ll cover a brief history of the brand, what they’re looking to achieve with their unique products, and who might benefit from introducing them into their setup. We’ll also turn our specific attention to the MBL products Kantata will be stocking - a trio of audio solutions that come together to represent a floor-to-ceiling listening setup of the absolute highest quality. 

Introducing MBL

Conceptualised in the 1970s, MBL is the brainchild of pioneering electronics engineer Wolfgang Meletzky. As a young man, Meletzky found himself wanting for a sound system that could replicate the colour, range and emotional flight of the music that he experienced whilst attending his beloved Berlin Philharmonic. Yet every HiFi setup he sampled inevitably came up short in contrast to the live performance. 

In Meletzky’s living room the music was unidirectional, pushed outward through cones and domes using air compression, magnetic coils and paper diaphragms. All were mounted in a geometric housing designed to transform an amplified electrical signal into sound pressure waves. The result was a sound experience that never quite matched the emotional thrill of a live orchestra. 

Meletzky also found himself struggling with the need for the listener to sit at the apex of a  “stereo triangle” to hear the optimum results from two speakers beaming at a single sweet spot. He was convinced there was a better way. And so he set himself the task of finding it. 

The design he settled on was wholly unique - a loudspeaker without the hard lines of a rectangle, but rather in the form of an elongated sphere, evenly radiating music outward in all directions, much like a light bulb emits light. He called it the ‘Radialstrahler’.

In 1979, Meletzky partnered with his friends and future partners, Bienecke, and Lehnhardt, and founded the MBL to share their newly invented Radialstrahler with the world.

Fast forward to 2024, and today MBL stands as a global leader in the field of high-end audio. With one of the largest and most modern manufacturing facilities in premium audio, MBL continues to manufacture every one of its components and loudspeakers in-house in a mixture of high-tech and handcraft. 

Six speaker models featuring one-of-a-kind Radialstrahler technology are complemented by the Reference, Noble and Cadenza lines of electronics, each offering five components that deliver unparalleled sound quality to satisfy the most discerning audiophiles and music aficionados.

MBL and Kantata

Once we’d had the opportunity to experience the incredible audible power of MBL’s Radialstrahler loudspeakers and accompanying electronics, we knew this was a brand that we had to introduce to the audiophiles of Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

Their loudspeaker designs represent a genuinely novel way to experience the music you love. It’s among the most natural sounding audio experiences we have come across - the sound is not radiated on one plane, but over a sphere encompassing 360 degrees, filling the room with a natural balance of direct and reflected sounds. They really do have to be heard to appreciate them in all their incredible fullness.

Again, don’t forget you can do just that at the Belfast Audio Show!

Initially, we’ll be stocking three products from the MBL range, representing a complete listening system between them. Here, we’ll look at each in turn.

Radialstrahler 126 Loudspeakers

Meet MBL’s most compact omnidirectional loudspeaker - a stunning addition to any listening setup and any home. 

The diminutive 126 Radialstrahler was specifically developed to create an astonishingly large soundscape in smaller listening rooms. Its pyramid shaped bass cabinet can’t break the laws of physics, but it pushes them to the last hertz with a specially constructed bass-reflex enclosure that reduces cabinet resonance and vibration. 

With only 11 litres of volume, two 5.5” woofers configured in a push-push grouping on the sides of the cabinet make optimal use of their space to deliver in-room bass frequencies down to 70 Hz. The two bass drivers punch far above their weight with torsion-resistant aluminium membranes that maximise cone excursion. Held firmly in place by an aerodynamically shaped chassis, each of these powerful drivers enjoys maximum freedom of movement. The heat generated by the cones’ linear travel is efficiently dissipated from the driving voice coil via a directly glued voice coil carrier.

NOBLE N31 CD/DAC

With optional Roon module

MBL’s N31 CD-DAC elevates the soundtracks to your life by seamlessly combining a world-class CD transport with a state-of-the-art digital-to-analogue converter – all in a stylish, sculpted chassis. 

Using XLR, RCA, optical, or USB inputs, the N31 CD-DAC processes digital signals with sample rates up to 24-bit/192 KHz, or using NativeDSD. The USB inputs have been skillfully designed to extract digital data stored on an iPhone or iPad – bit perfect, error free, every time – while the N31’s optional Roon Module allows connection to a local network and provides background information on its colour display, such as album art and title tracks.

It’s a distinguished CD player, a superlative DAC and, optionally, a Roon Ready streaming endpoint that embodies the culmination of many hard-earned improvements and innovations.

NOBLE N51 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

Is it possible? A complete amplifier solution in a compact package? Absolutely. The MBL N51 conceals both a preamplifier and a power amplifier in a single, elegant chassis. 

A powerful 380 watts per channel (into 4 ohms) lets you take it to the limit – without distortion – thanks to intelligent soft clipping. And that’s only the beginning. Revel in the performance of MBL’s Unity 

Gain technology, derived from the N11 Preamplifier for maximum dynamics. Indulge your musical tastes with LASA 2.0 for added control when driving complex loudspeaker loads. Proudly showcase the 5-inch high-resolution colour display, and command the performance with the stylish backlit remote control featuring a rotary volume control. 

Should you consider introducing MBL to your system?

You would surely expect us to answer with a resounding, ‘yes!’.

Yet HiFi is such a deeply personal and individualistic pastime, and here at Kantata Audio we’re firm believers that the right system for you is the system that sounds right for you. There are very few absolutely correct or incorrect answers in the pursuit of spine-tingling musical experiences.

What we can say with some confidence is that MBL’s remarkable products are unlike anything else we’ve experienced in HiFi. They have the potential to completely revolutionise the way music lovers interact with their collection. MBL can represent a major step-up in quality for even those with the most discerning systems.

If you’re currently planning to upgrade, or crucially downsize your system, MBL must be on your shortlist to audition. We’re confident that these stunning products compete with the very best on the market and they could be more affordable than you think. 

Say goodbye to all those boxes, cables and power supplies!

Interested? Why not come and hear it for yourself? Join us at Belfast Audio Show 2024 on November 2nd and 3rd for more!

Innuos Pulsar Network Music Player and USB Reclocker arrives on demo at Kantata Audio!

The PULSAR is the star of the Innuos PULSE Series. Sporting a full bead-blasted and anodised high-grade aluminium chassis yet the best is still reserved for the inside.  

Packing a custom ARC6 module with Active Rectification, over 130000µF of Mundorf Capacitors, a large high-end inductor and a massive 300VA audio-grade toroidal transformer. 

Instead of SPDIF and AES/EBU outputs, the PULSAR offers an optimised USB output to take sound quality to a whole new level by incorporating a PhoenixUSB Lite Reclocker. 

The innuOS Operating System’s SSD is also upgraded to a SLC (Single-Level Cell) module, as opposed to the more common TLC (Triple-Level Cell) for the best durability and lower operating power noise.

The PhoenixUSB Lite board and SSD are powered by 2 independent CX Regulator Modules for a smooth yet fast and detailed sound. 

Overall, the PULSAR will deliver you a large, deep soundstage with incredible instrument separation and true-to-life sound textures that brings true musical emotion to your home. Listen to what you have been missing! 

Auralic to announce 4 new products at the Munich High End Show 2023!

Auralic Aries G3 Wireless Streaming Processor

AURALiC is releasing four new products this year: ARIES G2.2, VEG AG2.2, ARIES G3 and VEGA G3. These products represent a generational shift in the technology platform while maintaining the understated elegance and classic design of the G series UnityChassis II that incorporating a pure copper sub-enclosure and multi-point tuned sprung base assembly.

All the latest products incorporate AURALiC's new Tesla G3 streaming platform, using a 64-bit architecture that enables it to achieve eight times the processing power of the previous version. The memory capacity has also been increased to 4 GB, and Direct Memory Access Technology (DMA) has been integrated into the system. These advancements are engineered in such a way in that all audio-related circuits to connect directly to the system memory, substantially reducing latency and jitter by 90% comparing to its predecessor.

In a significant step for the company, the G2.2 and G3 products have been designed in the USA, and the ARIES G3 and VEGA G3 will be hand-built in AURALiC's Oregon facility. AURALiC is thrilled to announce a future collaboration with Dirac to incorporate their cutting-edge technology into the product line. This partnership will enable AURALiC to integrate Dirac's advanced technology, which will contribute to ensuring that products remain at the forefront of innovation and deliver the highest quality audio experience.

AURALiC will be showcasing its new products and cutting-edge streaming technology at the highly anticipated HighEnd Munich audio show between 18th and 22nd May at room Atrium 4.2G E211. The ARIES G2.2 and VEGA G2.2 are scheduled to commence shipping in July, while the G3 products are expected to be available for shipping in August.

The manufacturer suggested retail prices are £5,299 for ARIES G2.2 and £9,899 for ARIES G3, and those for the VEGA G2.2 and VEGA G3 are £6,899 and £10,699 respectively.

Innuos Announce SSD version of the ZenMini Mk3

The SSD version of the ZenMini Mk3 will be know as the Mk3 S. The “S” is a new variant to the acclaimed ZenMini Mk3 Music Server and Streamer, now featuring SSD storage and 8GB of internal memory for faster and crisper navigation through large music libraries.

The ZenMini Mk3 will not replace the exiating ZenMini Mk3, which will still be available as a more affordable option.

Pricing:

1TB £1,549-00

2TB £1,749-00

4TB £1,999-00

Pre orders can be taken now. Shipping of the new version will be on 12th October 2022.

A ZenMini upgrade program will be available from early 2023 for anyone who wishes to upgrade an existing ZenMini Mk2 or Mk3 to the latest “S” level.

Auralic announces Aries G1.1 and Altair G1.1!

The new Aluralic Altair G1.1

AURALiC is delighted to announce an update for its ARIES G1 and ALTAIR G1 to the G1.1 version. Reflecting their drive to innovate and lead the music streaming market, this update provides exciting improvements for both models.

Engineered to exacting standards, the ARIES G1.1 and ALTAIR G1.1 excel in today’s demanding environment of high-resolution music streaming. Designed and consistently updated in-house, the Lightning streaming platform has led the industry since its release in 2014. Focused on providing the best possible sound and an outstanding user experience, Lightning streaming includes several unique features such as memory cache, CD playback and ripping, and wireless streaming up to 384 PCM and DSD512. The Lightning DS iOS app provides native integration with high-resolution streaming services like Amazon Music, Qobuz, and HighResAudio, as well as other lossless services such as TIDAL, KKBox, and NetEase, providing a world of musical exploration. AURALiC’s Lightning streaming platform also supports TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and acts as a Roon Ready endpoint allowing you the freedom to access and control your music however you like.

The G1.1 update brings two new features common to both models. The ARIES G1.1 and ALTAIR G1.1 now feature the high-mass base from our award-winning G2.1 series products. This satin silver base plate improves their overall aesthetic and provides extra vibration damping for better sonic performance. Both units now support AirPlay 2, further expanding your streaming options.

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The new Auralic Aries G1.1

Auralic Aries G1.1

The ARIES G1.1 Wireless Streaming Transporter brings high-performance music streaming to your home audio system. Connect it to your DAC and stream your favorite music wirelessly. With the G1.1 update, customers can purchase an internal storage option to store their favorite music inside the device.

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The new Auralic Altair G1.1

The ALTAIR G1.1 Digital Audio Streamer, with its robust Wi-Fi connectivity and analog output, is a clean one-box solution for all your digital music. Connect the ALTAIR G1.1 to your amplifier or powered speakers and enjoy a world of music streaming options at your fingertips. ALTAIR G1.1 has an improved Femto clock, providing an even higher level of precision for the integrated DAC. It also has a more powerful built-in headphone amplifier, making the headphone listening experience even better.

The ARIES G1.1 and ALTAIR G1.1 will each retail for £2499. Our ex-demo G1 models are available on the ex-demo list.