There is an old argument in hi-fi about running in. Some people swear a new pair of speakers needs a hundred hours before it settles. Others think the only thing that changes in those hundred hours is the listener. We won't settle it here. We will point out that nearly everything in this year's Annual Clearance has already done its hours, in our own demonstration rooms, and that it starts on 9th November at Ber Street and online.
Nearly all of it is ex-demonstration, and there are 94 items on the list. The cheapest is an Avid Isopuk at £40, and most of the rest are single items: one of each, and then they are gone. The full list is a PDF you can download.
These are the pieces we would want people to know about before someone else gets there.
The Avalons
A pair of Avalon PM2.2 loudspeakers in dark polychrome are £31,000, against £43,750 new. That is the most expensive thing on the list and also the biggest saving in pounds, £12,750. They are not a casual purchase, and they want a room and a system that can keep up with them. If you have both, ring to arrange a listen, and bring something large and orchestral (Mahler's Second, if you have the afternoon).
A dCS with a story
The dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC is £29,995, from £40,500. Our list says "scratch on top", and we would rather tell you now than have you find it. If the top of your DAC lives under a shelf, that is £10,505 you can spend elsewhere.
Only if you own Exakt speakers
The Linn Selekt DSM Hub is £5,650 against £9,950, which is a lot of Linn for the money. It works with Exakt speakers only, so if you don't have them, it isn't for you.
For the vinyl end of the room
The Cyrus TTP turntable is £2,500, from £3,499. It comes with its lid but no cartridge. Conveniently, there is a cartridge on the list too: the Avid Ruby Reference moving-coil, at £3,999 against £6,499. Fitting a cartridge that costs more than the deck it sits on is a choice hi-fi people have argued about for decades. We'll leave that one to you.
Whatever you end up playing, put it on something solid. The Solidsteel HP-3 three-shelf rack, in Atlantic black with copper, is £5,499, down from £8,975.
Before you set off
These pieces have been used in our rooms, so the details column on the list tells you about anything worth knowing. Ring first to check the item you want is still here. Prices include VAT, and the rest of the sale is in the clearance collection.
Get in touch
We are at 85-91 Ber Street, Norwich NR1 3EY. Call us on 01603 627010, send a WhatsApp to 07554 687137, or email info@martinshifi.co.uk. You can also use the contact form on our shop site.
Martins Hi-Fi
85-91 Ber Street, Norwich NR1 3EY
01603 627010
info@martinshifi.co.uk
