Hi-Fi Choice - May

AUDIOFILE
Mission
launch
Exceptional sound at affordable prices is the goal
for the all-new LX-2 and LX-3 entry-level speakers
PRICE: £200/£400 AVAILABLE: LATE SPRING
CONTACT: 01480 447700 WEB: MISSION.CO.UK
BUDGET TWO-WAY SPEAKERS
the LX-2 and LX-3 (shown) are the
debut models from Mission’s latest
entry-level loudspeaker range, the LX
Series. Despite their affordable price
tags, Mission informs us that the new
models have been designed to deliver
compelling musicality. For the LX
Series the company has produced a
tweeter with a neodymium magnet
(selected for maximum magnetic
force in such a small space) and a
25mm microfibre dome. This is
partnered with the 130mm mid/bass
IN BRIEF
LEEMA EXPANDS
ELEMENTS SERIES
driver unit (one in the case of the
LX-2 and two for the LX-3), sporting
cones fashioned from an advanced
fibre formulation apparently selected
for its superior self damping and
excellent stiffness. The standmount
LX-2 has a claimed sensitivity of
86.5dB, while the floorstanding LX-3
claims 89.5dB. Both models will
initially be available in black, with
further colour options to follow. A
smaller standmount (LX-1) and two
larger floorstanders (LX-4 and LX-5)
will join the series in the summer.
Clearaudio record cleaner
PRICE: £3,250 AVAILABLE: NOW
CONTACT: 0118 9814238 WEB: CLEARAUDIO.DE
● The Elements Pre-Amp is Leema
Acoustics’ latest addition to its
space-saving range of components.
Retaining the same half-width chassis
for which the range is famed, the
Elements Pre-Amp also boasts an
onboard digital-to-analogue
converter. The result is a S/PDIF
coaxial input, three S/PDIF optical
inputs and an asynchronous USB port
all capable of handling files up to
24-bit/192kHz resolution. Analogue
inputs include three unbalanced RCA
inputs, a pair of balanced XLRs and a
3.5mm input jack on the front panel.
Leema’s proprietary communication
system (LIPS) is also onhand for
system integration with other Leema
products. The Pre-Amp is available to
buy now and costs £1,395.
LEEMA-ACOUSTICS.COM
There can be few things more
frustrating than sitting down to
listen to a favourite record only to
find that it’s filthy. Giving your vinyl
a proper wet clean can be a time
consuming and at times messy job.
Enter Clearaudio with what it’s
describing as its best solution for
cleaning records yet – the Double
Matrix Professional Sonic.
Integrating both sonic and
vacuum cleaning elements, the
Double Matrix Professional Sonic
record cleaner is claimed to deliver
a deep, but importantly, gentle
cleaning of pressing residues and
persistent dirt that’s deep within
the grooves of your vinyl – enabling
you to listen your music as it really
should be heard.
The Double Matrix Professional
Sonic is able to clean LPs, EPs and
7in singles, thanks to its range
of adaptive cleaning brushes,
which have been designed to
automatically adjust to different
record diameters and thicknesses.
The bi-directional rotation means
that discs are cleaned in both
directions and because the cleaner
is double sided, both sides of your
album will be given a clean up
simultaneously. Much like a regular
washing machine for clothes,
there’s a wide selection of different
cleaning pre-set programmes
alongside a fully automated super
clean that can be accessed at
the press of a button or you can
manually adjust your own personal
parameters to suit your needs. A
Clearaudio ‘Seal’ clamp is bundled
to hold discs in place, while a LED
light indicates the level of cleaning
fluid in the reservoir. It weighs 16kg
and is described as being quiet in
operation. The Clearaudio Double
Matrix Professional Sonic is
available to buy now and is being
distributed by Sound Fowndations
(soundfowndations.co.uk).
8 MAY 2016