Hi-Fi Choice - May

for IAG said: “The Z Series is the
pinnacle of Quad’s enclosure speakers
and features the largest ribbon treble
unit that I’ve ever used, giving the
Z Series a clarity and definition
throughout the upper midrange and
treble that is utterly beguiling. This
combines with the acoustic filter bass
reflex system and low-coloration
enclosure to deliver the perfect
embodiment of the natural sonic
realism that is the hallmark of Quad."
The Z Series is launched as part of
Quad's 80th anniversary celebrations
and is available in black, white or
rosewood piano lacquered finishes.
Z-1 standmounts in
sumptuous rosewood
COMMENT
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE:
RECORD STORE DAY
Over the years, HFC has proudly
championed the vinyl format – at times
being a lone voice crying out in the
wilderness among the naysayers that
favour digital over the pure pleasure that
comes from the black stuff. And now,
it would appear that our out-dated,
old-fashioned thoughts on the matter
have been adopted by the mainstream
as records have once again become the
format de jour. But while we're delighted
that the general public is realising
something that we've been banging on
about for years, we can't help but feel a
sense of dismay about what the popularity
of vinyl means for the independent record
labels that stayed true to the format. And
nowhere is this better illustrated than by
Record Store Day.
In the past we've been a big supporter
of the annual event, but we can't help but
feel that it has rather lost its way. As we
write these words, RSD 2016 is a couple of
weeks away and we can predict how it will
go. Like previous years, on the morning of
Saturday 16 April stores will open to find
queues of punters eager to get their hands
on the exclusives. And like previous years,
most of these people will be making their
one and only trip to the store until next year.
It's difficult not to draw similarities between
these 'bargain hunters' forming an orderly
line and those that camp out for days
outside an Apple store to be first to get a
the latest iPhone. These are not the sort of
people that support their local record store
during the other 51 weeks of the year.
They're not the supporter of the indie label
that can't get it's records pressed in the lead
up to April, as the plants are getting Justin
Bieber or Ghostbusters discs cut for the
ebay dealers and johnny-come-latelies
willing to splash the cash on novelty discs.
Back when RSD started, its goal was to
draw people back into record shops, and to
keep them coming back. In an era where
supermarkets are stocking the black stuff
again, the old strategy no longer works and
is actually having a detrimental effect on the
very labels, stores and fans that it should be
supporting. It's time for a serious rethink.
MAY 2016 7