Page 35 - Hi-Fi World (January 2020)

REVIEW

device through them.
In all then, Vena II comes packed
with ability, lacking only streaming
from a home network. However,
in that its USB connection links
into a computer that will in effect
(push)stream to it, this isn’t such a
big issue other than you must have
a computer and it must be switched
on.
There’s no app to act as
controller, instead a small lightweight
remote control is provided
– arguably a better way of doing
things. And it was superbly easy and
intuitive to use. Altering volume
actuates an Alps high quality motor
driven potentiometer, so the volume
control turns as if moved by a ghost.
Trouble is you can’t see this because
there is no visible marking, so the
led of the selected input flashes.
And the horizontal select bar of
the remote mimics the input select
pattern: press left and the select
sequence moves left, right and it
moves right along the horizontal
row. The only blip here being dull
grey illegible legends on the fascia.
SOUND QUALITY
I connected Vena II to our Martin
Logan ESL-X hybrid electrostatic A toroidal mains transformer at left of the Quad's linear power
loudspeakers through Chord supply. At middle sits the amplifier's finned alloy heat sink and
Signature XL loudspeaker cables. at bottom right the Alps motor driven volume control.
CD was spun by our Oppo BDP-
205D Universal player acting as a
transport, feeding the Vena’s optical scratchy switch-mode sound here! With Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams
input (S/PDIF) through a QED Spinning Jan Akerman’s Am (24/96) Mick Fleetwood’s drumming
Quartz glass optical cable. I now use I Losing You (CD) Vena II was stood out as solid and powerful,
only preened hi-res high dynamic immediately and obviously easy in its moving along with muscular
range CD recordings because too delivery – relaxed yet pure. The bass confidence. Stevie Nicks vocals were
much on CD is awful in quality terms line was firm but full, the drum kit easily clear centre-stage and backing
and misleading to me for review fleshed out with detail rather than harmonies nicely delineated in their
purposes. Good hi-fi products like being an outline, a simple simulacrum own space. Again a full and powerful
this one expose quality issues in the that is not uncommon with digital. performance graced by an easy
recordings. This quality of insight and rich timbral confidence of delivery.
Hi-res came from an Astell&Kern revelation played through both With Bluetooth connection my
AK120 portable player running on Rock from CD and also classical, iPhone was seen and connected
battery power, to input clean digital where Nigel Kennedy’s Meditation swiftly, delivering David Bowie’s
from S/PDIF rather than noisy from a (Massenet) glided past my ears with a Suffragette City with pace and power
USB computer source. lulling naturalness that was absolutely (DSD 2.8MHz from an Onkyo player,
Bluetooth was used from an right for it: think richly patterned. sent as 24/48 PCM). As usual with
iPhone 6S playing DSD files from the This is the characteristic signature Bluetooth there is a flattening of
slick Onkyo hi-fi player that translates of the ES9018 DAC chip – in Quad’s depth perspective, obvious with
down to 24/48 PCM for BT work. excellent support circuitry. Cyndee Peter’s singing House of the
And LP was input from a Moving from CD to hi-res from Rising Sun (DSD 2.8MHz), but overall
Timestep Evo Technics SL-1210 Mk2 our Astell&Kern AK120 portable Vena II came over as strong and
Direct Drive upgraded turntable, player, the thundering kettle drum svelte.
with SME309 arm carrying an Audio that insinuates power behind Mars With our turntable, turning
Technica VM750SH Shibata tipped made itself known in full and strong volume to maximum produced
MM cartridge. fashion in the LSO’s rendition of slight hum. Moving earth from the
And what a lovely sound! Very Holst’s The Planets (24/48). terminal fitted to a phono socket
Quad. Vena II gives that big, fulsome Benjamin Grosvenor’s light ground produced silence, so it
sound you get from a well developed touch on the keys playing Chopin’s appears case ground (the terminal)
Class A/B amplifier backed up by Nocturne No5 was subtly but clearly and signal ground (phono socket)
a quality linear power supply: no conveyed. are different (as they can be); this

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