Something new? Indeed.

We sold a lot of SME tonearms back in the day, and came to know them pretty well. Not as well as Brian Laker though, so we’re very pleased to see his expertise is available again under the ‘Mr SME’ banner.

Full details available in the pdf. Contact Brian at smerepair@proton.me or on +44 (0) 7798 544971‬

Those splendid folks at Hi-Fi Plus+ demonstrate their boundless wisdom and highly-refined taste by bestowing an Editor’s Choice award on the R25A. “Another bottle of fizz, please, and make it snappy…”

After the warm reception our system received at last year’s Audio Show Deluxe, we thought it would be fun to turn up the heat a little. So… in place of last year’s Kuzma Stabi M, Safir 9 and CAR60, we will use the bonkers Kuzma XL Air with Safir 12 and CAR 70. This is Kuzma’s statement turntable and ultimate cartridge. The turntable has a 40 kg platter that turns on a 5 micron film of compressed air, and if that is not extreme enough the cartridge has a one-piece sapphire body and one-piece diamond stylus / cantilever.

In place of last year’s Kuzma Stabi R we will use the new Kuzma Stabi RM fitted with 4P14 tonearm and CAR50 cartridge. The RM is essentially the R model with the massive M bearing and M platter. We are very enamoured with this deck… if Goldilocks owned a turntable, this would be it.

Both turntables will feed Consolidated Audio’s nano-crystaline transformers, SJS phono, line and power amps, and of course of our own Living Voice R80 OBX loudspeakers. The system will be powered using the wonderful Audes ST 3200 power supply and cables will be from DH Labs.

Also making their debut will be the Stradi Tube 300Bs from Korea. These are lovely, reminiscent of the classic ‘golden era’ WEs. Fluid, organic and musically on point. The SJS M10 monos use three of these 300Bs per channel, one as a driver valve and a pair as parallel single ended output valves.

This show, if anything, promises to be even more fun than the last one. We have a reputation for creating systems that exude musical sophistication and elegance. We have developed a tradition for drawing a crowd at a show – people wanting to discover new music, whether it be classical or contemporary – and people who are looking for tangible ways to breathe new life into old music.

It has always been a pleasure to share insights and experiences with our fellow music lovers, and we delight in demonstrating how small and simple changes can elevate the musical experience. We look forward to meeting and greeting old friends and new.

Part-Time Audiophile’s Scot Hull considers organ donation to fund the purchase of Living Voice R80s.

… this new middle-of-their-range R80 proved to be just bigger in every way. Much larger cabinet. Much broader frequency reproduction. And a vastly more powerful bass capacity. Oh myyy. The sound is heavenly.

It’s always rewarding to receive acclaim from a little further afield. It just takes us a little time to organise the translations, but better (slightly) late than never. Perceptive reviewing and high praise. It could almost make us blush.

A return to Whittlebury following up the UK debut of the Living Voice R80 in 2023. It may be an old adage, but it is as true as it has ever been – a great system is more than the sum of its parts. In the intervening two years, the individual parts have been considered and improved, small details refined and finessed, with an even more engaging and immersive performance coaxed from the whole.

The system we are showing at this year’s AUDIO SHOW DELUXE will comprise:

• Turntables from Kuzma; a model M with Kuzma Safir 9 tonearm and Kuzma CAR 60 cartridge on a ZeroVibe isolation platform; and a Kuzma R with 4Point 14 tonearm and Kuzma CAR 50 cartridge, again on a ZeroVibe isolation platform.
• Consolidated Audio Silver Nano Monster Can transformers in solid copper chassis.
• SJS Model 3 Silver Premier Phono stage. SJS Model 4 Premier Line stage. SJS Model 10 monoblock power amplifiers.
• Living Voice R80 OBX loudspeakers. Our most recent design, combining the musical coherence and artistic sensitivity of the OBX-RW4 with the visceral thrill and commanding authority of the Vox Olympian.
• Audes DT-3600 Power Conditioners. A revelation. Whatever drawbacks you may consider historically compromised such devices, be assured they don’t apply to the Audes products.
• Living Voice G2 equipment supports.
• DH Labs Interconnects & speaker cables.

We’re greatly looking forward to the Show and hoping to see lots of new and familiar faces.

Another acclaimed ‘Favourite Room’ show outing for our long-time US-based collaborators, BorderPatrol, with the Living Voice OBX-R80.

Part-Time Audiophile’s Tom Gibbs discovers a totally immersive musical time machine.

Listening to the Living Voice R80 OBX loudspeakers in the system was, in a word, intoxicating, and I instantaneously developed an emotional connection with the music playing across them.

Ken Micallef of Stereophile seems to have enjoyed a rich but possibly slightly messy experience.

…the system danced and stormed, soared high and swooned low, leaving me a squishy puddle of emotion and excitation.

They combine the high musicality and ease of drive found in the brand’s Auditorium models with a degree of transparency and dynamic expression that few can match. When you consider the lavish build and finish, the separate crossovers and the all-out gorgeousness of the sound the OBX-R80s make a very strong case for their asking price.

Our long-time US-based collaborators, BorderPatrol demonstrated the Living Voice IBX-R80s, along with their rather fine amplifiers and DAC plus Triode Wire Labs cabling, over the weekend of the Show.

Ken Micallef of Stereophile evidently found it a memorable experience.

A room where sound didn’t just exist, but seized the listener, demanding attention. This was a sweet-sounding, naturally toned, fully robust system.

Graig Neville of Part-Time Audiophile similarly enjoyed our musical oasis.

The sound was truly enjoyable. The music wasn’t playing ear-blastingly loud, which was a welcome respite for a reviewer trying to save their ears for the entire weekend…. The treble and midrange of the Living Voice R80 OBX were warm and inviting, so I stayed and listened for longer than I had in many other rooms enjoying the gear and music.

A warm welcome from Frank Kuzma to the Kuzma Analogue Academy 2024, featuring ‘hands-on’ sessions with Michael Fremer, who also created a factory tour video.

Highly enjoyable, and hugely informative for anyone wanting to know what makes Kuzma tick (and gain an insight into why they make our favourite turntables).

The CEC TL0 3.0 Belt-Drive CD Transport.

The Kuzma Stabi S/ Stogi S Turntable & Tonearm.

Both on demonstration here at Definitive of course.

With all of the music I sent their way during their 2-month+ Barn stay, the R80 sang with authority, weight, and a deep, rich voice while sounding light on their feet, nimble, with a silky smooth resolution that offers a clear view into music’s finer workings without ever sounding etched or overly lit up.

In many ways, the Living Voice R80 OB-X are a dream come true, combining a rich earthy full range voice with real in-room impact and grace without the need for gobs of power. A combination of strengths that offers a deep physical connection to our cherished music.

The setting was the demonstration room within Loud & Clear’s Leith showroom - other audio dealers are available but L&C is definitely in the top tier - and the main attraction was an evening getting up close and personal with iconic British manufacturer Living Voice’s new R80 speakers.

Summed up, these things absolutely rock. And roll. And do the quieter acoustic stuff. And make jazz almost acceptable. They also look fantastic - traditionally solid and not too overpowering in a smaller listening space.

Always good then to see another convert, the Ear‘s Jason Kennedy concluding:

It’s more of a musically enchanting amplifier than most, and that makes you want to use it for longer, to explore new and old releases and fully engage in the results.

The Auditorium R25A is so consummately capable and confidently superior that you can forget more affordable alternatives; this baby shows many more ambitious and much more expensive speakers exactly how it should be done as well as unlocking a world of affordable system options.

Places wiil be limited per session for what’s likely to be a popular event, so get in touch with Loud & Clear (not us) to book your slot; please email or call 0131 516 7561. Let them know if you have a preferred time and they’ll do their best to fit you in.

Hope to see you there.

The Living Voice Auditorium speakers have been in continuous production for over quarter of a Century. (They must be doing something seriously right!)

Roy Gregory, GY8

NB. The changes from RW3 to RW4 lie purely in a much-revised crossover, facilitating an easy upgrade for RW3 owners. Contact us for details.

Handsome, easy to accommodate, affordable and maintenance free. Six models to suit every pocket and every conceivable power requirement: ST-500, ST-900, ST-1500, ST-3000, ST-5000, and a twin transformer unit, DT-3600.

In-depth report by Alan Sircom on how to create a truly memorable listening experience, Kuzma style.

Very rewarding to see him select the OBX-RW4 in his recent ‘best of the year’ round-up, and we particularly relish his description of its “funky, fruity veneer.” We might have to make that an official finish option.

You can read the full article (originally from Loud & Clear’s newsletter) and don’t forget to give Iain a cuddle from us next time you’re in the shop.

There’s also an interview with Kevin Scott on how the R80 came about and the importance of …well, everything, really, when it comes to designing a loudspeaker.

And if you’ve ever wondered what music we use to evaluate and finesse our products and systems, then there’s an insight into a small selection of our ‘essential’ discs.

Always nice to see visitors appreciating our efforts.

You can count on Kevin and Lynn Scott from Definitive Audio to put on a good show wherever they appear, and Ascot didn’t disappoint. …As in Munich, the sound was about as natural and musically expressive as one is ever likely to encounter at a HiFi show.

Eric van Spelde, HiFi Pig

A first impression from a day with us rather than a full review (that’s to follow), but a pretty indelible impression as it turned out…

But even a single day spent in the company of the v3.0 leaves me in no doubt that it represents a paradigm shift in performance. This may actually be a linear development of the v2.0’s already impressive delivery, but it is also fundamentally more communicative and expressive, elevating the musical performance and access onto a whole new level.

Twittering Machines’ main man listens enthusiastically to the R25A, concluding:

What I’m after, what I crave, is the ability to fall into music as the bottomless pit of enveloping beauty it is without the mechanics of reproduction or the voice of the gear getting in the way. The Living Voice Auditorium R25A offer a fast pass to just this kind of experience and their easy to drive load means you have a big wide world of wonderful amps to choose from. I enjoyed, relished, our time together and just remember that when it comes to listening to music on the hifi, there’s nothing wrong with pure pleasure.

We’ve not quite swept the boards in the HiFi+ Analogue Awards, but we’ve put up a very good show. If this were Crufts, we’d certainly be doing a lot of tail-wagging.

Our specific tally of gongs:

All on demonstration in sunny Long Eaton of course. Full award details in the HiFi+ Vinyl Special edition.

Our unique approach to designing complete audio systems has won friends and admirers the world over for the past 30 years. We have a system-centred holistic approach that celebrates musical performance rather than the equipment. It may be an old adage, but it is as true as it has ever been – a great system is more than the sum of its parts. It should transcend sound, leaving the listener in a blissful state of musical immersion.

The system we are showing at AUDIO SHOW DELUXE will be no exception. It will comprise:

• Grand Prix Audio Monaco V2.0 turntable with Kuzma Safir 9 tonearm and Kuzma CAR 50 cartridge with Consolidated Audio Copper Nano Monster Can transformer. Yummy!
• Kuzma Stabi M turntable with 4P14 tonearm, Kuzma CAR 60 cartridge with Consolidated Audio Silver Nano Monster Can transformer. Also Yummy!
• SJS Model 3 Premier Phono stage. SJS Model 7 Silver Premier Line stage. SJS Model 5 Silver Enhanced 300B power amplifier. Hand-built electronics, designed with love, passion and serious expertise.
• Living Voice R80 loudspeakers. The first showing of this long awaited new design, evolved over 4 years. The R80 combines the musical coherence and artistic sensitivity of the OBX-RW4 with the visceral thrill and commanding authority of the Vox Olympian.
• Living Voice G2 equipment supports. A careful balance of energy dissipation and energy isolation, with an organic and human sound.
• Living Voice Pure Music battery Power Supply system. 600 Ah of pure and uncorrupted energy.

We are greatly looking forward to the weekend, hoping to seeing lots of familiar faces and making sure that we have a great deal of fun.

We know, we’re not exactly prolific when it comes to launching new loudspeakers. Our view is there’s a lot to be said for the old maxim that “if a job’s worth doing, it's worth doing well.” So eager to please though we are – and we’ve had many requests for a larger loudspeaker than the Auditorium Series – there’s no racing around like an over-excited Labrador puppy.

Inevitably this means things take a little time, our design process is an exhaustive (and occasionally exhausting) one, but when all the fussing and finessing is done, and we can finally listen purely for pleasure, we still think our approach proves to be the best.

No need to take our word for it though, you can judge for yourselves at the Audio Deluxe Show in Whittlebury on Saturday March 25th & Sunday March 26th. Tickets and Show details.

We’ve not quite finalised things yet, but we’ll definitely be taking along some of those turntable and amplifier things hi-fi enthusiasts seem to be quite keen on. Ours will almost certainly be primarily from Kuzma and SJS, along with our favourite supporting cast of ancillaries. See you there?

PS. Definitely no Vox Olympians though, contrary to what some of the Show’s publicity material might seem to suggest. Can’t fit them in our overnight bag, that’s the problem.