Well, we are now in our Residential Hi-Fi Facility and very pleasant it is too. No more struggling through the traffic and ducking the Traffic Wardens in St.Albans, our customers park right outside and watch the Ducks on the pond. So much more relaxing.

Zu - who ? Zu is an exciting new American company producing some very interesting speakers and cables. The speakers all feature at their heart, a full range, hand-made 10.3 inch, paper cone driver which covers the spectrum from 35 Hz to 12 Khz where a horn loaded super tweeter rolls in. The efficiency is an amazing 101 dB/ 1 watt, so you don't need a 'muscle amp' to make the earth move. Coherence and prescence are the name of the game - they produce a large, solid sound stage right there with you. Realism and dynamism in abundance and you can have any finish you fancy (at a price).

Want tubes on a budget ? We have the superb Puresound A30, 35 watts/channel integrated amp, the A8000 CD player with tube o/p and variable up-sampling plus the new and wonderful P10 tube phono stage. All designed by 'Tube Guru' Guy Sergeant, superb build, exquisite finish and priced to be affordable.

More tubes but this time from Tron, a small but very enthusiastic British company producing a range of no-holds-barred tube electronics. Their Seven range is more affordable than their top stuff and consists of three up-gradeable phono stages, a line level pre and a novel DAC. All very simple but beautifully executed circuitry utilising the finest components in order to extract the most from your music. Of particular interest are the phono stages which even include a 'mono' version with switchable EQ to make the mono enthusiast's dream machine.

We now have the Nottingham Analogue 'Ace Spacedeck' on demonstration and selling nicely at £1100. Outwardly, very similar to the long established 'Spacedeck', the 'Ace Spacedeck' has the thrust pump bearing with a higher lead bronze content for much quieter operation. The arm base and the motor housing are now up-rated and heavier with a higher lead content steel All this makes for a far better sound, elevating this turntable to another level.

Kudos speakers have arrived and excellent they are too. British to the core, the Cardea range comprises two stand-mount and two floor-stand speakers from £1450 to £2950. The fit and finish is examplary, the proportions just right and the sound is right up there with the very, very best. Best of all, they are fast and pacey. Far too many full range speakers are slow and ponderous but these are so quick you can squeeze another track on each CD. Kudos is a name to watch.

On the analogue front we have a brand new tonearn from Helius Designs. I have long been a fan of their products but the new Omega tonearm starting at £1465 is something else. We haven't had it long but it is very, very good and the 'looks' are stunning.