This package includes the Yamaha AS500 Black, CDS300 Black and the Monitor Audio BX2 Black.

YAMAHA AS500

"Best stereo amplifier up to £500, Awards 2010. Yamaha cracks the budget stereo amp nut: a stunningly capable product"

Yamaha have spent a good deal of time ensuring that the A-S500 is one of the best sounding amplifiers in its class. First of all, they've separated the power supplies for the iPod dock from the main amplifier. This is to the benefit of both amplifier and iPod sound quality. Added to this, Yamaha have used a reinforced casing with substantial anti-vibration methods for a purer, more precise sound quality. Finally, a large power supply with dual heat sinks ensures that the AS500 can produce a punchy and dynamic sound without the risk of overheating. Put together, these features give the powerful, 85 watt Yamaha a majestic sound quality with the scale and range of a much more expensive amp. Detail and precision is pretty impressive, too.

Class-leading sound quality is one thing, but where the Yamaha A-S500 really scores is in combining this with an equally impressive range of features. In terms of inputs, the AS500 has a separate iPod dock, two recording loops and a phono input for your turntable. More unusually in a stereo amplifier, there's also a subwoofer output. There are two sets of, separately switched, speaker sockets and a headphone output. A remote control that will also operate other Yamaha devices is included, too. An independent record output and a tone bypass for purer sound quality complete the spec.

Finished in Yamaha's retro yet timeless A-S design, the A-S500 is not only built to last but built to look good for years to come.

YAMAHA CDS300

Using the same construction techniques and board layout as its more expensive brothers, the Yamaha CD-S300 offers amazing value for money.At the heart of this Yamaha CD player is a top quality Burr Brown 192kHz/24bit DAC. These are renowned for their ultimate clarity and precision and help give the Yamaha CD-S300 one of the most incisive sound qualities in its class. Matched to this class-leading DAC is a similarly high quality CD transport with a floating mechanism. This reduces vibrations for even greater accuracy. Being centrally mounted also provides better disc stability and, therefore, less chance of reading error. For the highest sound quality possible, a Pure Direct function bypasses the display and digital output to both shorten the signal path and reduce electrical interference: this gives yet another boost to the sound quality. Symmetrical layouts and high quality components complete this impressive sounding CD player.

One of the most exciting features is the front-mounted USB socket. Plug in your iPod, iPhone or other MP3 device and you'll benefit from using the high quality DAC built into the Yamaha - it also saves on the need for an iPod dock. Both optical and coaxial digital outputs are provided with all phono sockets benefiting from gold-plating. The CDS300 will happily playback CDR/CDRW discs and even MP3 and WMA formats. Finished in Yamaha's distinctive brushed aluminium, the CD-S300 doesn't just perform well, it looks good, too.

MONITOR AUDIO BX2

Available in most of our stores but please check before making a special journey

"Stereo speaker Product of the Year, Awards 2010. The BX2s are quite an achievement and some of the most engaging speakers you can buy at this money." What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

The Monitor Audio Bronze BX2 is one of the finest speakers in its class - and has the reviews to prove it!

The new C-CAM (Ceramic Coated Aluminium Magnesium) gold dome tweeter has an extended frequency response that now stretches to beyond 30 kHz. Whilst this may be well above our audible spectrum it does have a positive effect on the sound; lower notes that we can hear aren't compressed downwards or harmonically compromised. In short, the treble response is smooth, sweet and detailed. Matching this refined tweeter unit is a similarly impressive woofer. The highly developed C-CAM bass and mid-range integrates smoothly with the treble to give life-like vocals and a powerful, rhythmic bass response. For a fairly compact speaker you'll also find surprising bass weight with the BX2.

Another technically impressive feature is the woofer fixing. Rather than being bolted to the front baffle, through-bolt construction ensures isolation from the main cabinet and therefore a less coloured sound. The cabinet itself is highly rigid and features HiVe II port technology. This exhausts the air from the cabinet as quickly as possible to give a faster and more dynamic bass response.

With its walnut pearlescent finish, the BX2 blends well with both traditional and contemporary furniture. The Bronze range is also finished to the standards of much more expensive speakers. For example, the grille is magnetically attached and there are no exposed driver bolts once the grille is removed.

Make no mistake, the Monitor Audio BX2 stands at the top of its class.