Mcleans Smarter Home Entertainment

06/05/2026

Australian Hi-Fi Show report over @ What Hi-Fi? 🎶

Three days of sunshine, four floors of beautiful music and entertainment. Check out the goods...

05/05/2026

"I've rarely heard Billie Holiday sound this relaxed....Ben Webster's saxophone was so real you could picture the column of air rising from the bell."

🎶
DeVore Fidelity

04/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who visited us over the weekend at the Aus HiFi Show. Your enthusiasm and feedback made our day.

Making a debut at the Australian HiFi Show, the return of one of Magnepans' earliest creations... the “two” series!

The Magnepan 2.7X is a 3 way planar magnetic loudspeaker. With a 101cm true ribbon tweeter. This new model will challenge your perception of the value of true high-end loudspeakers.

n.b. Pass Labs X350.8 Class A/B stereo power amplifier holding down the fort. Innuos Pulsar streamer, LampizatOr Pacific 2 DAC, Audio Research REF6SE pre.

Cabled with FoilFlex.
Rack build BOX Furniture Co.
Streaming ROON with Qobuz / Tidal.
Power conditioning by IsoTek.

Magnepan Incorporated Pass Laboratories Innuos

24/04/2026

Missed the Magnepan MG2.7X @ AXPONA Audio Expo North America? You have another chance in Sydney next weekend. We will be at the Australian HiFi Show, May 1-3.

21/04/2026

"...pushes you past analysis and into something uncomfortable and real." Terrific DeVore Fidelity O/Reference review.

DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/Reference at AXPONA 2026 delivers tone, power, and emotional connection that most $100K systems miss.

10/04/2026

HiFi show prep. A return of one of Magnepan’s earliest creations, the Two series! 2.7X

17/03/2026

Visit us at the Australian Hi-Fi Show this May 1-3 🎶

Sydney's premier hi-fi and video show is brought to you by Australian Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi? and Sound+Image magazines, the Australian Hi-Fi Show 2026 celebrating the latest and greatest in the hi-fi and AV industry, giving visitors the opportunity to see and

16/01/2026

"I bet it gets tiring for makers of panel speakers like the Maggie 20.7x to have to remind some people they play Zeppelin (loud) without apology."

Twittering Machines had the Magnepan MG20.7X in for review - includes a bonus side-by-side with the DeVore Fidelity O/Bronze!

Michael Lavorgna's Twittering Machines: HiFi with a twist

25/09/2025

Andrew from Not An Audiophile podcast caught up with John DeVore during his antipodean tour last month... settle in for everything DeVore Fidelity here: https://notanaudiophile.com/2025/09/21/s2-ep038-devore-fidelity-with-designer-john-devore/

24/09/2025

Interested in unusual low output solid state amplifiers with an emphasis on sound quality? The SIT-5 monoblock power amps are now available to audition. Get in touch if you would like to visit and hear what all the fuss is about First Watt by Pass. Awarded a sixmoons.com 'Unicorn of 2025'!

From the maker Nelson Pass himself:

"My experience is that people who like 5 or 10 watt Triode tube amps driving efficient/high impedance loudspeakers will have an appreciation of the SIT-4 that is different than that of the SIT-5, designed with higher power around less efficient/low impedance loudspeakers.

It’s not merely about watts, but human taste and the relationship the amplifier has with the loudspeaker. In any case, it’s worth experiencing both sides, and you can actually do that with the same single gain device…

I always keep in mind that the graphics and numbers only hint at the sonic performance.
..These particular amplifiers are aimed at those audiophiles who appreciate detail, warmth, depth and imaging. They aren’t for everyone, although they seem to have considerable acceptance in the audiophile community.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy them as I do."

The SIT-5 is the most recent amplifier produced by First Watt, and is the fifth to use a Static Induction Transistor (SIT) as the power amplifying device. In 2011 we introduced our first SIT amplifier using a custom Silicon Carbide (SiC) transistor part made by SemiSouth. The amplifier also used a single power device, operating without feedback in single-ended Class A Common-Source mode to deliver 10 watts of power emulating the characteristic of a Triode, but operating at voltage and currents directly needed by loudspeakers, eliminating the output transformer.

The success of the monoblock SIT-1 led to the SIT-2, which offered similar performance at higher efficiency, and two channels in the same chassis. 2018 saw production of the SIT-3 which operated the SIT transistor in Common-Drain (follower) mode, again without feedback which was available until 2023.

Some years prior, SemiSouth suffered bankruptcy and we found ourselves unable to acquire more of this special part. However there was a company in Japan – Tokin, known for making industrial Silicon SIT parts suitable for audio use. Their production facility was destroyed in the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, but we were able to acquire these parts from existing inventories of these devices over a period of several years. These large Tokin SITs enjoy that same Triode character, but at much higher voltage, current and power ratings than our original SITs.

A special variety of Jfet invented in Japan in the 1950’s, in the 1970’s SITs enjoyed popularity in the “Vfet” power amplifiers from Sony and Yamaha that are still highly regarded in high end audio. Ultimately the difficulty and expense of SIT manufacture made them less competitive compared to later bipolar transistors, and it is only more recently that their superior qualities have been recognized for high end audio.