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NEWS RELEASE 6/22/09 NaimUniti's innovative engineering team has created extreme audio in one sleek chassis, which means high performance with minimal wiring and space requirements. Now shipping, the much-anticipated, all-in-one package includes an integrated amplifier, CD Player, FM tuner, internet radio, iPod dock, digital-to-analog converter, music file player and network stream player. To say that NaimUniti offers digital versatility would be a huge understatement. The range of audio files handled effortlessly by this new player is astonishing and includes MP3, Windows Mediaâ, AAC, Apple® Lossless (from an iPod®), FLAC and WAV formats. Combined with Naim's legendary sound quality, engineering integrity and design sophistication, the NaimUniti is a contender for best in class. NaimUniti's high performance audio quality coupled with its remarkable digital media capability sets this system apart from any other all-in-one audio product. But, of course there's more. Inside the NaimUniti beats an analog heart. The powerful integrated amplifier derived from the Nait 5i features 50-watts per channel with ten-inputs allows and end-users to hook up multiple digital sources such as media servers, set-top boxes, DVD players/recorders, satellite systems, gaming consoles, and more.
Furthermore, the system's iPod interface is extra powerful, thanks to the
specially designed iPod The NaimUniti's intuitive and comprehensive user interface makes operation and navigation fun and easy. The system finds iRadio stations without prompting, seamlessly connects to networks, automatically discovers shared audio files, and presents everything on its large front panel display. The all-in-one system is the perfect audio hub with sound quality that cannot be matched by any product in its range. The NaimUniti selling price is $3750.00 USD; the n-Link interconnect for Apple iPod costs $150 USD. To learn more about the NaimUniti and other Naim models visit: http://www.naimaudio.com Or: http://www.naim-audio.com/products/naimuniti.html NEWS RELEASE 6/22/09 New preamp from fi. It's not without some pride that I recall Harvey Rosenberg saying that I had "the sales charisma of a wet paper bag". So here are some photos of two new preamps with no glowing descriptives. The first three attached photos are of a one-piece unit that is the final evolution (the guy who got the first one called it "Darwin" after mumbling something about "intelligent design") of the preamp that Art Dudley reviewed in the Spring 1997 Listener. Everything about it is evolved and refined from that, but the real difference is that it's dead quiet (something the first one wasn't quite). This one has a MM phono stage in the full function version—there's also a slightly smaller linestage-only. The last four photos are the all-new one. Separate all-tube regulated power supply. It's going to be in three versions, a linestage-only, a full-function with MM (shown here) and a full-function with switchable MM/MC phono. The MC phono will incorporate a custom step-up transformer, not shown in these pictures. There has been a lot of enthusiasm, deservedly so, for the Shindo preamps. They're good, but some comparisons might be interesting... Regards, Don Garber
NEWS RELEASE 6/22/09 Robert Lee of Acoustic Zen is proud to announce their new Allegro subwoofer. A 1,000 watt mono class T amplifier provides the power to a pair of down ported 10" subwoofers with under hung ultra linear motor system. The 150 lb. subwoofer is rated from 20 Hz to 150 Hz (+/- 3dB). For more information, please visit www.acousticzen.com
NEWS RELEASE 6/22/09 Tabla is a loudspeakers floorstanding shelf that using an inert material (granules of marble), allows to loudspeaker "to float". TABLA are supplied with a special antiscratching black or white paint, to minimize the probable scratch during the positioning of the loudspeaker. To avoid any problem, we suggest to use base disk between the spikes of the loudspeaker and the TABLA. Attached there is an high resolution picture and also the graphic obtained by CLIO FW system and ACH-O1 accelerometer, in which is possible to note that TABLA allows to reduce the vibrations of 8dB (compared to floor). TABLA has an useful size of 330 x 430 mm (w x d)—overall dimension 460 x 510 mm (w x d). On demand it's possible to produce every size the clients need, maintaining our "family-feeling" shape. The price of a pair of TABLA is around 575,00 Euro. Bassocontinuo Audio Systems Lorenzo Belloli Paolo Schreiber - Bassocontinuo Audio Systems via M.L. King, 36 24050 Grassobbio (BG) P IVA 03481900169 tel. + 39 035 4522080 fax + 39 035 335728 www.bassocontinuo.it
NEWS RELEASE 6/12/09 Bel Canto Design, Ltd., manufacturers of analog and digital source components and amplifiers pulls the cover off their latest integrated, the S300iUSB for fast-proliferating computer-based music systems. My Playlist Myself A rapidly expanding cadre of enthusiasts use iTunes to arrange and play their carefully groomed computer-based music collections. But how to port all that downloaded, ripped and recorded high resolution material to your stereo system? Bel Canto hears you; we understand what you want and make what you need. You want your audio easy-to-access, eco-modern (cool-running, low power consumption), small and easy-to-place, and sounding particularly awesome! You want the S300iUSB integrated amp. The S300iUSB takes a direct input from the USB output of your computer using the same circuitry developed for our popular stand-alone USB Link 24/96 (for 44.1/16-bit DACs). Our well-regarded 24/96 upsampling DAC board does the business into 300 watts of dual-mono fully-balanced power per channel. This powerful but cool-running, half-size integrated amp uses the same technology found in our sweet-sounding S300 stereo amplifier. The dual-mono regulated switching supplies and all-encompassing parallel protection circuits breeze through over-current or thermal overload conditions protecting your investment and staying completely out of the signal path. And it features Bel Canto's easy-to-use, multipurpose digitally-controlled analog volume control. Simply run a USB connection from your computer to the S300iUSB, add a set of speakers, and the listening pit is open! Air-conduct Mahler, Poulenc or Stravinsky, settle deep in the groove with Miles, Ellington and Basie, or get wild to Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas and Kings of Leon! We Get Reports Our Quality Control Engineers have heard that in the midst of all-important, attention-consuming tasks (updating Facebook?) S300iUSB users often find themselves entranced, fingers hovering unmoving over the keyboard, captivated by the music. At Bel Canto we live for these moments and do everything we can to stretch it out for the full performance! Bel Canto music products are eminently satisfying, discrete and sleek enough to flatter any room. Designer John Stronczer uses less power to do more with elegant, efficient, Green designs. They're as substantially built as required without shiny chrome bumpers; we let the music do the talking. Low-heat and ultra-efficient switch-mode power supplies enable Bel Canto's compact, half-size components; place two Bel Canto products in the space formerly occupied by a large, hot-running, inefficient class-A design. We're just saying… A CD-2 Transport, a DAC3 and a pair of REF500 monoblock amps use less power while playing than a 40 watt light bulb! Keep your system powered up, no guilt, no waiting! About Bel Canto Bel Canto Design has developed award-winning products for more than 15 years using the highest standards of design, engineering and production practices. Included in the Bel Canto line are a series of CD players, DACs, integrated amps, mono and two-channel amplifiers, the e.One Pre3 stereo analog preamp, the companion PHONO3 with adjustable cartridge loading, and the new USB Link 24/96 that's growing a pile of positive reviews, plus more exciting products on the way. Our music products are made in Minnesota, and we subscribe to low-impact production methods that put little waste back into the system. Reduced packaging volume and lower transport weight reduces our environmental impact. We reuse or recycle more than 99% of the packing materials found in our incoming parts shipments, and each year we divert massive amounts of cardboard, paper, plastic film, and Styrofoam from landfills. Steel, aluminum, and other metal waste products are recycled and returned to the production stream. MSRP $2495 The new 24/96 DAC board can be slotted into existing 300iu integrated amps with a factory upgrade.
Bel Canto Design, Ltd. NEWS RELEASE 6/12/09 Furutech Co., Ltd., manufacturer of analog and digital audio and video cable and accessories, is is delighted to unveil the new Monza LP Stabilizer; Pure Transmission technology for your valued vinyl. La Grande Épreuve Grand Prix racing‘s single focus: Testing the absolute limits of technology and performance for that final 10th of a second that makes the difference between victory and also-ran. Furutech builds each and every cable in their line the same way; optimized engineering solutions applied to advanced materials and processes, backed by utterly meticulous build quality. The beautifully finished precision machined nonmagnetic stainless steel base and top modules are separated by a layer of damping carbon fiber. The bottom surface is covered with 16 concentric cushioning grooves made of an extremely effective Piezo Electric damping material. The Piezo Effect and Your Valued LPs Furutech's Pure Transmission Piezo Ceramic Carbon series products--like the Innovations award-winning FI-50 connector series--feature remarkable "active system" technology. We create a unique material mixing two "active" materials: Nano-sized ceramic particles and powdered carbon. Only nano-sized ceramic particles effectively couples with carbon powder for the piezo effect to occur. Nylon and fiberglass are incorporated into the mix as well, and the whole forms an extremely effective mechanically and electrically damped material. That's not a misprint; it's electrically damped as well. Piezoelectric effects are the key. Furutech employs nano-sized polycrystalline ferroelectric ceramic particles exhibiting electro-generative properties (mechanical pressure creates an electrical charge) with carbon powder that exhibits thermal-conductive characteristics that interacts with the electrically charged ferro-ceramic particles converting their energy into heat that's conducted away and released from the surface of the material, and in doing so making the connection between electrical and mechanical oscillation. The mechanical and electrical damping effects occur while "interconverting" thermal, mechanical, and electrical energy, the perfect weighted surface for your LPs! MSRP $480 • Available Now! Furutech Co., Ltd., manufacturer of refined analog and digital audio and video cable and accessories brings to market an analog accessory that analog fans need but few make well. Furutech lavished all its engineering resources on creating these new Headshell Leads. The La Source 101 Long Headshell Leads and La Source 102 Short Headshell Leads join the Monza LP Stabilizer in the latest of Furutech's analog product releases. Grand Prix racing‘s single focus: Testing the absolute limits of technology and performance for that final 10th of a second that makes the difference between victory and also-ran. Furutech builds each and every cable in their line the same way; optimized engineering solutions applied to advanced materials and processes, backed by utterly meticulous build quality. To fully enjoy all that analog offers you must get every detail right, especially given the vanishingly low outputs of many cartridges. Furutech Pure Transmission technology is applied to every element of signal transfer to avoid the distortion that robs music of life. Choose the configuration matching your needs and enjoy the purest of sounds from your turntable. Match the La Source ‘Leads with a Furutech Silver Arrows pure-silver phono cable and victory, as they say, is yours. All enthusiasts are looking for the same qualities: Verisimilitude to the original event, a sense of engagement promoting suspension of disbelief, an immersion in the audio and video experience. To engage without effort requires meticulous preparation of the entire playback chain especially including signal cables, and most importantly, right at the source. La Source Short and Long Silver Headshell Leads achieve their remarkably quiet soundstage and transparent presentation with pure silver conductors, four-layer shielding and an external ground, even a specially engineered cable clamp to improve grip and avoid mechanical distortion. La Source 101 Long Headhshell Leads $280 La Source 102 Short Headshell Leads $250 Available Now
La Source 101 Long Headshell Leads
La Source
102 Short Headshell Leads Furutech was honored with a Best of Innovations 2009 award for what may be the most sophisticated and thoroughly engineered AC connectors in the world, the FI-50 Series, now standard equipment on the Furutech Piezo Powerflux AC cord. Furutech make other award-winning analog accessories like the DF-2 LP Flattener, the celebrated DeMag, the DeStat, the SK-II LP Brush, and the Ag-12 Phono Cable of which Michael Fremer of Stereophile recently wrote: "The award for best performance and highest build quality at the lowest price goes to the Furutech AG-12.". Team Furutech Engineering Superior Analog Solutions for a Noisy Digital World! About Furutech Furutech makes a wide variety of high performance 15A and 20A A/V cable and power connectors and parts, as well as distribution/filtering products like the new 120Hz standard xv1.3 HDMI cable, Ag-12 Silver Tonearm Cable, Pure Power 6, e-TP4+4, e-TP609 and e-TP60 Power Distributors, and e-TP80 Power Filters, deMag Disc and Cable Demagnetizer, the deStat, a fan-driven, Balanced Ion Drive device for totally eliminating static from LPs and CDs, DF-2 LP Flattener, lightweight and stylish FRD Room Diffusion Panels, PC-2 Disc Pure Cleaner, and their own very special NANO Liquid Contact Enhancer, plus even more fine cable and OEM products. Make A More Powerful Connection with Furutech! FURUTECH CO., LTD service@furutech.com www.furutech.com NEWS RELEASE 6/12/09 Marantz America, a world leader in advanced home entertainment solutions, is bringing a world-class music listening experience to guests of the luxury Empire Suite at The Carlyle, the legendary Manhattan hotel that stands at the corner of 76th Street and Madison Avenue. Guests in the hotel's Empire Suite duplex will be able to enjoy breathtakingly realistic and room-filling music through the custom-installed Marantz "Reference System," featuring four MA-9S2 monaural power amplifiers (SRP: $7,999.99 ea.) and an SC-7S2 preamplifier (SRP: $7,999.99 ea.). Musical content will be provided by the ultimate-quality SA-7S1 SACD/CD Player (SRP: $6,999.99). The flagship 2-channel Marantz Reference System will drive two luxury DALI MEGALINE III Speakers (SRP: $60,000 per pair) in a bi-amplified configuration. Luxury Audio for a Luxury Suite All three products in the Marantz Reference System are designed to provide discriminating audiophiles and custom installation specialists with the advanced components they need to create true reference-quality audio systems. Zinon Zinon, owner of Savalex Audio / Video in New York and a longtime Marantz dealer, installed the Marantz Reference System and DALI Megaline in the Empire Suite. Says Mr. Zinon, who has installed over 100 Marantz components in different rooms throughout The Carlyle over the years, "I chose the Marantz system for this luxury installation simply because dollar for dollar, it's the best sounding and best-looking gear I've ever worked with. Similarly, the performance of the DALI MegaLine 3 loudspeakers is nothing short of breathtaking, offering exquisite nuance, superb soundstage and depth while at the same time being perfectly comfortable playing at live concert levels. The well-known elegant aesthetic of the Marantz and DALI components are a perfect match for the luxurious atmosphere of The Carlyle and The Empire Suite, and the level of audio performance literally reaches perfection. " Kevin Zarow, Vice President, Marketing and Product Development for Marantz America noted: "The Carlyle is renowned as one of Manhattan's most luxurious hotels, and is known for its close longtime connection to the entertainment industry. Our Reference Series products are, quite simply the best we know how to make, and we believe they're a perfect fit for the Empire Suite." Ultimate Quality Music Listening Marantz Reference Series components are designed to provide ultimate-quality audio experience, from virtually inaudible nuance to thundering crescendo. The SC-7S2 Reference Control Amplifier sets the stage for musical reproduction virtuosity with a unique high channel separation design, upgraded low noise Toroidal transformer and more. With a total of 18 Marantz HDAM SA modules, the SC-7S2 is capable of reproducing the most demanding musical passages with clarity, subtlety and distinction. The unit's F.C.B.S (Floating Control Bus System) adds to its performance capabilities. Marantz's MA-9S2 Reference Power Amplifier features a two-stage amplifier circuit, instantaneous high-current delivery capability and a double shielded low-noise Toroidal transformer. The unit's full-balanced circuitry, high-speed amplification system, and 300-watt (8 ohm)/600-watt (4 ohm) power capability makes it the audiophile's choice when it comes to delivering pure, balanced power to a no-compromise music system. Marantz' state-of-the-art SA-7S1 Reference SACD Player is packed with audiophile-grade selected components. It features a specially designed aluminum mechanism, as well as advancements such as a selectable digital filter, low-jitter internal clock, digital phase converter and more. To bring out the best and brightest sounds of today's advanced digital audio disc formats, including SACD, CD, and CD-R/RW recordings, the platinum SA-7S1 SACD player utilizes refinements such as D-A Isolated Circuit Construction, high-accuracy NPC SM5966AS DACs, and DAM SA Buffer Amps. An ingeniously designed shorter signal path circuit board construction adds to the SA-7S1's stunning music reproduction capabilities, decoding SACD's Direct Stream Digital (DSD) bit stream (1-bit sampled at 2.8224 MHz) with frequency response to 100 kHz and an incredible dynamic range of 113 dB (at lower frequencies). The SA-7S1's front-panel FL display features Marantz's blue backlighting and utilizes a separate power supply to prevent noise interfering with the audio signal path. In addition to Marantz Reference audio components, the system in the Empire Suite will feature the DALI MEGALINE III ultimate reference for loudspeaker performance. At 91 inches tall, MEGALINE employs a dozen 6.5-inch drivers, and floor-to-ceiling ribbons in each speaker. The result is sweeping wide-dispersion sound with crystalline purity and focus. Capable of reproducing thunderous lows and jaw-dropping impact, MEGALINE's costly, wood-fiber drivers also capture the subtlest nuances and inner detail. Due to the phase-coherence of the line array configuration, focus and imaging are superior to any conventional speaker. The experience of 3-dimensionality is magical and immersive. Marantz America, a world leader in advanced home entertainment solutions, is bringing a world-class music listening experience to guests of the luxury Empire Suite at The Carlyle, the legendary Manhattan hotel that stands at the corner of 76th Street and Madison Avenue. Guests in the hotel's Empire Suite duplex will be able to enjoy breathtakingly realistic and room-filling music through the custom-installed Marantz "Reference System," featuring four MA-9S2 monaural power amplifiers (SRP: $7,999.99 ea.) and an SC-7S2 preamplifier (SRP: $7,999.99 ea.). Musical content will be provided by the ultimate-quality SA-7S1 SACD/CD Player (SRP: $6,999.99). The flagship 2-channel Marantz Reference System will drive two luxury DALI MEGALINE III Speakers (SRP: $60,000 per pair) in a bi-amplified configuration. Luxury Audio for a Luxury Suite All three products in the Marantz Reference System are designed to provide discriminating audiophiles and custom installation specialists with the advanced components they need to create true reference-quality audio systems. Zinon Zinon, owner of Savalex Audio / Video in New York and a longtime Marantz dealer, installed the Marantz Reference System and DALI Megaline in the Empire Suite. Says Mr. Zinon, who has installed over 100 Marantz components in different rooms throughout The Carlyle over the years, "I chose the Marantz system for this luxury installation simply because dollar for dollar, it's the best sounding and best-looking gear I've ever worked with. Similarly, the performance of the DALI MegaLine 3 loudspeakers is nothing short of breathtaking, offering exquisite nuance, superb soundstage and depth while at the same time being perfectly comfortable playing at live concert levels. The well-known elegant aesthetic of the Marantz and DALI components are a perfect match for the luxurious atmosphere of The Carlyle and The Empire Suite, and the level of audio performance literally reaches perfection. " Kevin Zarow, Vice President, Marketing and Product Development for Marantz America noted: "The Carlyle is renowned as one of Manhattan's most luxurious hotels, and is known for its close longtime connection to the entertainment industry. Our Reference Series products are, quite simply the best we know how to make, and we believe they're a perfect fit for the Empire Suite." Ultimate Quality Music Listening Marantz Reference Series components are designed to provide ultimate-quality audio experience, from virtually inaudible nuance to thundering crescendo. The SC-7S2 Reference Control Amplifier sets the stage for musical reproduction virtuosity with a unique high channel separation design, upgraded low noise Toroidal transformer and more. With a total of 18 Marantz HDAM SA modules, the SC-7S2 is capable of reproducing the most demanding musical passages with clarity, subtlety and distinction. The unit's F.C.B.S (Floating Control Bus System) adds to its performance capabilities. Marantz's MA-9S2 Reference Power Amplifier features a two-stage amplifier circuit, instantaneous high-current delivery capability and a double shielded low-noise Toroidal transformer. The unit's full-balanced circuitry, high-speed amplification system, and 300-watt (8 ohm)/600-watt (4 ohm) power capability makes it the audiophile's choice when it comes to delivering pure, balanced power to a no-compromise music system. Marantz' state-of-the-art SA-7S1 Reference SACD Player is packed with audiophile-grade selected components. It features a specially designed aluminum mechanism, as well as advancements such as a selectable digital filter, low-jitter internal clock, digital phase converter and more. To bring out the best and brightest sounds of today's advanced digital audio disc formats, including SACD, CD, and CD-R/RW recordings, the platinum SA-7S1 SACD player utilizes refinements such as D-A Isolated Circuit Construction, high-accuracy NPC SM5966AS DACs, and DAM SA Buffer Amps. An ingeniously designed shorter signal path circuit board construction adds to the SA-7S1's stunning music reproduction capabilities, decoding SACD's Direct Stream Digital (DSD) bit stream (1-bit sampled at 2.8224 MHz) with frequency response to 100 kHz and an incredible dynamic range of 113 dB (at lower frequencies). The SA-7S1's front-panel FL display features Marantz's blue backlighting and utilizes a separate power supply to prevent noise interfering with the audio signal path. In addition to Marantz Reference audio components, the system in the Empire Suite will feature the DALI MEGALINE III ultimate reference for loudspeaker performance. At 91 inches tall, MEGALINE employs a dozen 6.5-inch drivers, and floor-to-ceiling ribbons in each speaker. The result is sweeping wide-dispersion sound with crystalline purity and focus. Capable of reproducing thunderous lows and jaw-dropping impact, MEGALINE's costly, wood-fiber drivers also capture the subtlest nuances and inner detail. Due to the phase-coherence of the line array configuration, focus and imaging are superior to any conventional speaker. The experience of 3-dimensionality is magical and immersive. NEWS RELEASE 6/12/09 UNIPHEYE MUSIC, LLC proudly announces the release of a breathtaking new title.
Recorded Direct-to-PCM on the 10th and 11th of May, the Felix Mendelssohn Opus 13 A minor String Quartet and the Claude Debussy Opus 10 G minor String Quartet are performed stunningly by Joel Link-violin, Bryan Lee-Violin, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt-viola and Camden Shaw-cello from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, USA. It is immediately evident how deeply the group feels the work. With every bow stroke they telegraph the joy of music as well as the smooth cohesion and communication within the group. Realizing that only a portion of people are able to pass 24bit/192kHz, FLAC files for this album are available in both 24bit/192kHz and 24bit/96kHz so that this special experience can be accessible to more. The movements of each work remain unedited, though the intact individual movements were those chosen as the best from the session, then cut together. "Unquestionably, this is our best work yet. During the recording sessions, I was mesmerized by how ‘on- fire' the quartet was. We set out with intent to design something unique, organic, not cookie-cutter; to capture the intimacy of chamber music, and in someplace other than a concert hall environment. Perhaps you will find that among other things, we have captured the raw excitement and emotionality of the playing in a very fresh way. Dare to explore with us?" offers Ira Norman Segall, owner and recording engineer. This is a very powerful and exquisite performance. We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to share it with you. For information: www.unipheyemusic.com NEWS RELEASE 6/12/09 Artisan Silver Cables launch pure silver Sennheiser Headphone Upgrade Cable
For a long time it's been well known that the audiophile models in the Sennheiser headphone range have been held back in performance by their stock cables. Luckily, the stock cables can be unplugged and replaced with better quality items. Nearly all of the upgrade cables on the market so far have used copper conductors, so Artisan Silver Cables have jumped in to fill a gap in the market with some very affordably priced pure silver Sennheiser upgrade cables. The "Silver Dream Sennheiser Upgrade Cable" uses the same 4-way Teflon-coated pure silver braid that the company already uses in its established and well-received "Silver Dream" interconnect cables, but covered in expandable protective sleeving, because headphone cables inevitably take some knocks. The plugs at the headphone end are not the usual moulded items that Sennheiser use on the stock cable - they are a premium design made by Cardas. The headphone jack is also a superior quality design, from the World leader in professional audio connectors Neutrik. They are suitable for the Sennheiser models HD-650, HD-600, HD-265, HD-525, HD-535, HD-545, HD-565, HD-565 II, HD-580 and any others that use the Sennheiser two-pin connection system. According to Artisan, these will absolutely transform the performance of your Sennheiser headphones, taking them into another league. The cable is two metres long and has an introductory price of £149. Artisan Silver Cables can be ordered direct from the web site at www.artisansilvercables.com NEWS RELEASE 6/5/09 ESOTERIC, a division of TEAC America, Inc., manufacturer of high end consumer electronics and OEM transports, has opened a new web site at www.esoteric.teac.com. The new site provides easier access to all ESOTERIC product information. The site is designed for easy navigation and acts as an informational resource for ESOTERIC dealers and consumers. Site access includes model by model information in all product sub-categories, product reviews, information on ESOTERIC proprietary technology, customer support, dealer listings and contact information. Product literature and various presentations are downloadable from the new site. For more information please visit www.esoteric.teac.com NEWS RELEASE 6/5/09 Gemme Audio, inventors of V-Flex™ and Breathe™ technologies and makers of renowned loudspeakers, announce the appointment of The Signal Collection, LLC as their exclusive distributor in the U.S.A. Designed by Robert Gaboury, Gemme Audio made its first big stir in 2006 with the introduction of their "V-Flex" technology, which is a particular bass loading design that permits drivers as small as 4" in diameter to perform with nearly full-range heft and extension. Their first proof of the V-Flex concept was the Vivace loudspeaker, a single-driver loudspeaker utilizing a 4" loudspeaker driver that has shocked listeners and reviewers with its ability to produce very low bass without compromising performance in other portions of the band. Now in its 2nd iteration, Vivace's legendary performance is still available to worshippers at the throne of the Flea Powered SET. However, V-Flex soon found a home in other models from Gemme, expressed gracefully in the Tanto (now in its 3rd iteration) and the newest model: Katana. These latest iterations of all three speakers feature the V-Flex Extreme technology, pushing the performance of these otherwise modest loudspeakers beyond "reasonable" - considering the driver compliment. "It was this 'unreasonable' aspect of the products that attracted me," shared Chris Sommovigo of The Signal Collection. "When Jean-Pierre Boudreau - Gemme's co-founder - first approached me to distribute, I wasn't keen on the idea. Anyone who knows my lines also knows that I am not fond of conventional loudspeakers - the technology has not only hit a wall, but the myriad other players in the conventional speaker market have created a raw commodity out of something that was once an art. Auditioning the Gemme Katana changed my mind - and that's an otherwise impossible task." Into this mix of unreasonably high-performance V-Flex loudspeakers is now introduced Gemme's Phénix line of loudspeakers, including the Green Gem and the Manticore loudspeakers. The Green Gem is a quasi-custom product that incorporates a credenza-like bass cabinet (utilizing their new Breathe™ technology) with two high efficiency monitors called "Soprano." Prices for the Green Gem begin at $40,000.00 USD and go up, depending on the level of customization the client desires. This can include a variety of finishes, as well as some structural/architectural changes to the shape of the product. With regard to Green Gem's marriage of "lifestyle" and high performance, Sommovigo shares, "The Green Gem is more of a category than a single product, due to its customizability. For some clients it is equally important that a product fit in with the décor of a beautifully appointed living space, and Green Gem affords the music lover an uncompromising level of performance without imposing on interior design." The Manticore (a name derived from the early Persian word, meaning "man-eater") is an extreme reference product. Available in two variants (A bass-horn version and a Breathe version), it is specified at 100dB sensitivity (2.83v/1m) with a power handling of 1,000w ... thus capable of producing almost 130dB. "To give an idea, 115 dB is the Rolling Stones in show playing at full blast," quipped Jean-Pierre of Gemme. "And then when you hear them, you might say they play like no other speaker you ever heard." Production of Manticore is slated for later in 2009. With a few early-adopters joining the dealer network this week, The Signal Collection and Chris Sommovigo will be welcoming more in the days and moths to come. "This lineup punches so far above its weight-class that the value is very high. Built and finished to some of the highest standards in the industry, it wouldn't surprise me if Gemme causes a few worries among the stalwarts and juggernauts of the conventional loudspeaker pantheon," said Sommovigo. "This is just the kind of product the industry needs: Unreasonably high performance, finish, and value. I'm glad Gemme found us ... and I'm glad we found them."
Gemme Audio
The Signal
Collection, LLC NEWS RELEASE 6/5/09 ITOK Media Limited's innovative Hi-Fi brand "Trends Audio" (www.TrendsAudio.com) launched their new innovative Hi-Fi product - Trends TA-10.2P Class-T Power Amplifier. This is a revolution technology among these several eras of the audio techniques. Though the product is only in a palm size, the sound quality is audiophile grade. Yet, the price is only one fifth to one tenth of the same quality power amplifiers. It totally has broken the tale story that "the larger, the heavier, the more power consumption, the hotter, the best sound amplifier". Trends TA-10.2P Class-T Power Amplifier lets more audiophiles, music lovers or even PC users can enjoy the high fidelity music in an affordable price. "We've experienced unprecedented growth in sales during the global financial crisis because many audiophile and music lovers are looking for the high end but not high priced audio products." says David Ho, the Marketing Director of Trends Audio. "After the release of Trends PA-10 Tube Headphone/Preamp in last December, we got a huge demand for the pure power amplifier to match Trends PA-10 preamp and other pre-amplifiers with audio source selection for enhancing the audio performance and fine-tuning the music color." Audio techniques are at a standstill The Hi-Fi user should know that though the CD, SACD, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, EVD, HDV, Blue-Ray DVD, etc… audio video storage and replay technologies are ever-changing, the basic amplifier technology has no change for 50 years. The most popular Class-A, Class-AB, and Class-B amplifiers are several eras' technology. Only the production technologies of electronic components and accessories improved. The basic technology and sound quality has no revolution improved. The later developed Class-D amplification technology though has the advantages of mini-size, energy saving and low heat; the sound is not very good. It can only apply for the low-end audio composites, Television, active multi-media speakers. It's difficult to reach the field of audiophile. That's why "the larger, the heavier, the more power consumption and the hotter, the best audiophile amplifier" is becoming a truth by most audiophiles in these eras. Recently, even more audiophiles go back to play tube amplifiers. Trends Class-T amplification broken the bottleneck Trends Audio's TA-10.2P applied the well accept Trends TA-10 and Tripath's proprietary class-T audio amplification technology. This integrated the class-D digital audio signal processing technique (PWM) with the Class-AB power amplification into a small IC. It has the mini-size, low heat advantages of Class-D amplifiers and also has the high fidelity sound quality of Class-AB amplifiers. Ingenuity Design + Audiophile Materials Besides applied Trends TA-10 and Tripath's class-T technology, Trends TA-10.2P also put much effort and applied much proprietary techniques into the circuit design, components matching, sound tuning and even the case grounding and shielding. Additionally, we applied audiophile electronic components, wholly aluminum case (light, stylish, good shielding from interference), standard gold-plated sockets, high-quality AC power supply. All of them significantly improve the sound performance. New Trends TA-10.2P includes: Applied the proprietary Trends TA-10 technology for audiophile quality sound. Work with Trends PA-10 or other pre-amplifiers with audio source selection. Using specially designed audiophile-grade "Trends" MKP capacitors as audio input decoupling capacitor. Applied the lowest LSR & highest ripple current Rubycon MCZ series tank capacitors. Remove the volume pot to minimize distortion. Re-organized the sockets layout of the back panel which provides a more convenient audio cable and speaker cable connections. Enhanced the chassis with beautiful satin finish and smarter black/white contrast. Provide Two years Limited Warranty. Trends TA-10.2P Class-T Power Amplifier is now for pre-order and it will be available in middle of June, 2009 and the suggested retail price is US$179 including AC power adaptor. For more information or interested to become their resellers, you can visit their web site at http://www.TrendsAudio.com or reach at (852)2304 0730 or by email at sales@TrendsAudio.com NEWS RELEASE 5/25/09 HeadRoom aims to prove yet again that dollar for dollar headphones outperform speakers; this time they're aiming straight for the top of the mountain. HeadRoom has brought the technologies of their now discontinued Max flagship models into their smaller Desktop product line with the introduction of the Balanced Ultra Desktop Headphone Amp and Ultra Desktop DAC (digital to analog converter). The Balanced Ultra Desktop Amp (BUDA) includes our now famous class-A biased Max electronics module with OPA627s and Jung Diamond Buffer discrete component headphone amplifier electronics. The BUDA can drive two regular pairs of headphones or one pair of balanced headphones, and will accept both balanced and single-ended audio inputs. $1,699.
The Ultra
Desktop DAC (UDAC) is a stand-alone digital to analog converter with the
amazing ESS Technology Sabre 9008 oversampling/dsp DAC at its heart. It will
accept S/PDIF digital signals on coax and TOSLINK optical connections, and
digital audio from a computer with the amazingly easy-to-use USB connection. It
has both balanced and single-ended outputs. $1,299. Call HeadRoom for information on headphones available with balanced connections and prepare to get it right between your ears.
HeadRoom NEWS RELEASE 5/25/09 Marantz America, a world leader in advanced home entertainment solutions, is celebrating 30 years of visionary guidance from its European Brand Director, legendary audio designer Ken Ishiwata , with the unveiling of two extraordinary audio components, the KI Pearls. Designed and engineered to Mr. Ishiwata's exacting specifications, the new KI Pearl units, including the SA-KI Pearl SACD Player (SRP: $2,999) and the PM-KI Pearl Integrated Amplifier (SRP: $3,599), exemplify his passion for music and reflect his ongoing quest for audio perfection. A limited number of the SA-KI Pearl units will be released in May 2009 to select Marantz retailers, with availability of the PM-KI Pearl scheduled for September 2009. "Ken Ishiwata has literally been the vision and guiding spirit of Marantz HI-FI for 30 years," noted Kevin Zarow, Vice President, Marketing and Product Development for Marantz America. "In order to celebrate his anniversary in the United States, we decided to provide our most loyal customers with the opportunity to experience his virtuosity in audio design and engineering in an exciting new way. With the introduction of our two KI Pearl components we're literally bringing his dream to life, fully embodying his expertise, passion and knowledge while celebrating his sublime love of music. Our new KI Pearls are two of the most unique and sophisticated audio components ever created. Mr. Ishiwata's personal attention to these components and to our company for the past 30 years is a great honor for us, and we believe a compliment to our discriminating customers as well." Impeccable Aesthetics and Unbeatable Audio Performance With their luxurious silk-black finishes and Marantz "blue-light" cosmetics, the two KI Pearl components combine art gallery-quality aesthetics with the highest quality build materials, copper-plated chassis and advanced audio performance features. Most importantly, they were designed and personally tuned by Mr. Ishiwata to reproduce music exactly as the original artist and recording engineers intended. The rock-solid SA-KI Pearl SACD Player, for example, was built to Mr. Ishiwata's demand for a "bulletproof" vibration-damped cabinet, massive power supply with a toroidal transformer and unsurpassed precision CD mechanism. Underneath the SA-KI Pearl's 5mm aluminum cover is a Xyron Disc Tray with Precision Super Audio CD Drive, a copper encased toroidal transformer, and Marantz-exclusive HDAM SA2 circuitry. Together they work sublimely with all the other carefully selected components to deliver precision high-speed signal handling over the widest possible frequency range. Adapting HDAM-SA2 and HDAM-SA modules with high-performance DACs (CS4398) from Cirrus logic, and selectable filters, ensure superior sonic reproduction, with playback capability for SACD stereo, CD-DA, MP3, and WMA files. Like the SA-KI Pearl, the rock-solid PM-KI Pearl Integrated Amplifier is packed with advanced circuitry and features to provide a powerful and uplifting music listening experience. Beneath its 5 mm aluminum top cover is a fully discrete 2-stage power amplifier (140 watts per channel at 4 ohms, 90 watts per channel into 8 ohms) as well as a constant current feedback phono equalization circuit (including both MM & MC), CD Direct input buffer circuitry and more. The two-stage circuit construction guarantees a breathtaking signal to noise ratio and a music experience to match the grace and beauty of its physical design. Discriminating consumers who would like to learn more about the new KI Pearl components can visit Marantz' specially designed website, http://www.marantz.eu/kipearl/. NEWS RELEASE 5/25/09 Electrocompaniet is proud to introduce our new ECR 1 Tuner. This model has been developed to extend the Electrocompaniet product range with a long awaited FM/RDS/HD/Internet radio.
With the ECR 1 our customers can finally compliment their system with high-end
radio reception in a design matching the rest of their Electrocompaniet
equipment. It also includes RDS (Radio Data System) for viewing your favorite
stations call letters and music material that they are broadcasting. Optional plug-in modules are available to include HD Radio and/or internet radio, a USB interface will also be made available.
Electrocompaniet Inc. NEWS RELEASE 5/25/09 Aperion Audio, a direct-to-consumer manufacturer of award-winning home audio and home theater speakers, this week announced enhanced versions of their in-wall and in-ceiling speakers which include aimable audiophile grade silk-dome tweeters, and bass and treble adjustment switches — one of the features normally found only with more expensive in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. The new Aperion architectural speakers are voiced to blend seamlessly with the rest of the Intimus line of award-winning speakers. "Our new line of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers are an effective solution to the challenge of achieving excellence in sound for the music and movie lover, while also satisfying the interior design conscious who enjoy the invisibility of speakers set into the wall or ceiling," says Aperion Product Development Lead, Mike Hopkins. Aperion's Lead Audio Speaker Engineer, Ken Humphreys, notes that once installed, an in-wall or in-ceiling speaker is fixed at a specific point in a room, making adjustments difficult. "The advantage of aimable tweeters for in-wall speakers is that the directional treble frequencies can either be aimed into the listening area for most applications or away from the listening area in order to get a more diffuse, ambient sound that is desirable in surround sound use. And since this type of speaker may or may not get placed near bass-boosting side-walls, we felt it was important to have a bass adjusting feature. From a design point of view, this is fairly hard to do as it requires the woofer to have two voice coils, one of them dedicated to the bass adjusting signal from a separate section on the crossover," says Humphreys. The Aperion Audio Intimus In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers As the newest speakers in Aperion Audio's acclaimed Intimus line, the 6-IW and 6-IC are not only builtfor visual assimilation in any home, but also produce fantastic, immersive sound with high-end features. In addition to aimable tweeters, the Intimus 6-IC In-Ceiling speaker features an angled woofer which may be pointed toward the "sweet spot" during installation.
Pricing and Availability
Installation Made Easy - Aperion Audio Partners with Zip Installation
About Aperion Audio NEWS RELEASE 5/20/09 Teo Audio, builders of world-class Runa loudspeakers and Liquid Cable, the world's first LIQUID METAL ALLOY CONDUCTOR audio, video, and digital cables, is proud to announce two new series of Liquid Cables to go along with their critically acclaimed MHD-1 series of cable products. Priced significantly downstream of previous incarnations, the PDL (Performance Delivered for Less, also affectionately known as "the puddle") and Super PDL ("super puddle") take full advantage of significant breakthroughs achieved through Teo Audio's extensive research and development; providing performance above their previous flagship-level cables at roughly half their price! This same R&D has improved all sonic aspects of performance of current flagship models by a subjective 50%. Seemingly impervious to the electromagnetic detriments inherent in solid metal conductor technology, Teo Audio researchers are not rewriting laws of physics; simply dusting off laws never previously applied to audio cables because no one has ever created cables with liquid metal conductors! Teo Audio's new Liquid Cable offerings are once again setting new price-performance standards. For more information, as well as dealer and international distributor inquiries, please contact Brian Kurtz, sales director, at 512-377-2834 or via email at sales@teoaudio.com. NEWS RELEASE 5/20/09 High-end audio distributor Fidelis AV of Derry, New Hampshire is proud to announce its appointment as the exclusive distributor of Perreaux audio components in the United States. Fidelis AV's Walter Swanbon says: "We are very excited about our partnership with Perreaux and look forward to bringing an increasing number of their products on-board in 2009" starting with the éloquence 150i and 250i integrated amplifiers. These two models incorporate the classic Perreaux standards of high-power, sonic integrity and design reliability. The Silhouette range brings the same no-compromise design and build to a flexible array of affordable mini-modules. "We now have the complete electronics solution we've been looking for", says Swanbon. The line will be introduced to the public at the Rocky Mountain Audio Festival 2009. Swanbon is no stranger to the brand, having sold Perreaux electronics throughout the 1980's from his highly-regarded audio shops in Arlington, MA and Nashua, NH. Perreaux will be offered to established high-end dealers across the country and joins the company's other product lines including Harbeth, LFD and Gradient. Founded in 1974, Perreaux manufactures high-end audio components out of their factory in Dunedin, New Zealand. They continue to be renowned for their indestructible power amplifiers; and first made waves across the audio world, particularly the US, in the early 1980's with the PMF2150B Power Amplifier and SM2 Class-A preamplifier. Dozens of new products have been developed since then, most notably the recently released éloquence range of integrated amplifiers, digital to analog converters and phono preamplifier modules. Perreaux remains as passionate and committed as those early days in 1974 and continues to develop some of the finest sounding audio components available. Perreaux is sold with pride in over 30 countries worldwide. For further information, including dealer or other trade inquiries, contact: Walter Swanbon
Fidelis AV NEWS RELEASE 5/14/09 Nottingham Analogue Studios high performance turntable manufacturer of Nottingham, England announced today the appointment of U.S. based ASL Group as their marketing and distribution partner for Canada. Since 1960 Nottingham Analogue Studios has been hand-building every turntable to perfection with the purpose of accurate and natural playback of recorded music as their first objective. Every last detail, down to the rubber used in the feet is tested for resonance characteristics ensuring that nothing will compromise the listening experience the music enthusiast and trained ear will surely appreciate. Karen Richardson, president of the ASL Group shares, "Nottingham Analogue Studios turntables are the crème de la crème brand in the market. There is simply no compromise when it comes to their passion for music playback with Nottingham." "ASL Group has been Nottingham Analogue's U.S. distributor since 2001 so it will be a natural for us to cover the Canadian market with our in-house Nottingham Analogue sales and support team in place. We represent Qsonix music management systems and Burmester Audiosysteme in Canada as well." Nottingham Analogue Studios offers seven elite turntable models priced from the entry-level Interspace Junior series at $1,999 to its top of the line, Deco priced at $38,500. Learn more about Nottingham Analogue Studios and their full line of premier turntables and accessories, when you visit www.aslgroup.com. NEWS RELEASE 5/14/09 Klipsch purchased selected assets of the privately held Mondial Designs Ltd. in 2001, acquiring the Aragon and Acurus brands of high-end amplifiers, preamplifiers and processors. Now, the leading global manufacturer of loudspeakers is selling the rights to these electronics brands to two former Klipsch employees. According to Mike Klipsch, president of the Klipsch brand, Klipsch purchased the brands because, at the time, it was aggressively seeking new ways to enhance its sound experience and wanted to develop perfectly matched, electronic solutions under the Aragon name. However, a few years in, the electronics market underwent significant changes and Klipsch decided to cease production of the Aragon line in 2005, while still honoring warranty terms and offering customer support. "From that point on, we decided our product development and engineering teams needed to be completely focused on what we do best and that's building high-performance loudspeakers," he noted. Today, the discontinuation of Aragon has opened new doors for former Klipsch electronics engineers Rick Santiago and Ted Moore. These two industry veterans, with 36 years of experience combined, have co-founded a new independent startup company called Indy Audio Labs, LLC and plan on developing and marketing new products under the Aragon and Acurus names. Indy Audio Labs will also assume full responsibility for the ongoing service and support of existing Aragon and Acurus products. According to Santiago, IAL CEO, we are living in a time when traditional home entertainment experiences are being significantly re-defined and enhanced. "In our opinion, few manufacturers have been successful at providing the A/V realism and operational simplicity that consumers want, especially in this new digital media world. Indy Audio Labs is excited about developing future-ready entertainment products that exemplify the high-performance, reliability and ease-of operation of the classic Aragon and Acurus models," he concluded. Effective May 18, when people call the Aragon tech support line at (866) 781-7284 or the Aragon service line at (914) 693-8008, they will automatically be forwarded to Indy Audio Labs. Additional support information can be found at indyaudiolabs.com. "Rick and Ted are extremely passionate individuals and have a very forward-looking vision for these two highly regarded electronics brands. I can't wait to see what's next for Aragon and Acurus," concluded Klipsch. About Klipsch® Founded in 1946 by Paul W. Klipsch, one of America's most celebrated audio pioneers, Klipsch has long been a high-end name in speaker design. Today, the brand continues its success as a leading global manufacturer of premium sound solutions for home, personal and commercial use. From massive professional cinema speakers to tiny headphones, Klipsch remains committed to delivering the most powerful, detailed and emotional sound experiences. Family owned and operated, chairman Fred Klipsch and vice chairman Judy Klipsch set the vision and strategy for the brand as well as the entire Klipsch Group, Inc. organization. For more information, visit klipsch.com. NEWS RELEASE 5/14/09 Artisan Silver Cables launch new entry-level pure silver interconnects. Great news in the current economic slump: the price of entry for audiophiles to the exalted realms of pure silver audiophile interconnect cables has just come down to a new low. Artisan Silver Cables - who pioneered affordable pure silver cables with their acclaimed "Silver Dream" interconnects - have just introduced a new entry-level interconnect called "Silver Star". With a claimed 85-90% of the performance of "Silver Dream", the new "Silver Star" puts ownership of pure silver cables within the reach of almost anyone, with an introductory price of just £99. According to Artisan: "In keeping with the name, "Silver Star" offers stellar performance! These leads perform at a level way above their price range. There's an immediate sense of musical "rightness" when you plug them in. The sound is exceptionally even-handed, musical, detailed, transparent & smooth. They will not disappoint - even in high-end systems." Artisan Silver Cables can be ordered direct from the web site at www.artisansilvercables.com NEWS RELEASE 5/14/09 John Potis Family Relief Fund established. John Potis, a well-known, well-liked audio reviewer who wrote for Soundstage, 6moons, and Positive Feedback Online, died suddenly at age 49. He is survived by a wife and 2 daughters, age 12 and 9. A Potis Family Relief Fund has been established for contributions to help his family. Cash contributions can be made by sending a check or a money order to:
Potis Family Relief Fund Contributions can also be sent through PayPal to john.potis@comcast.net Donations in kind also can be made by contacting:
Eric Luebehusen Donations in kind will be auctioned on Audiogon and the entire proceed will go to the Potis Family Relief Fund. NEWS RELEASE 5/10/09 Cable Research Lab, Inc. (www.CableResearchLab.com) announces dealer relationships. Cable Research Lab no longer sells direct. Cable Research Lab has not raised prices. All CRL cables can be purchased through one of several retailers: The Cable Company, Sweet Spot Home Theaters & Arizona High End Audio, Duntech Audio, G&P Audio Video, LDA, and High End Audio Video Entertainment. Details for these retailers can be found at CableResearchLab.com. CRL is working to open with new dealers soon. Dealer inquiries are invited. Chip Winston, President of Cable Research Lab wanted a better way to sell and explain CRL cables. "The decision to change from selling direct to selling through retailers is simply because dealers can better represent CRL's quality products." said Winston. "I'm pleased to be working with such fine retailers." "While this is a change for CRL, we're able to maintain our prices and still offer high quality products handcrafted in the U.S.A." said Winston. "Having an online retailer such as The Cable Company where customers can demo CRL cables before purchasing, and by adding more local retailers internationally offer more opportunities to hear CRL products. Of course, CRL customers can still take advantage of CRL's upgrade policy." Cable Research Lab products can still be heard at trade shows this year. CRL will also be co-presenting a seminar with deHavilland Electric Amplifier Co. and Sonist Loudspeakers to the Arizona Audiophile Society May 26th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The seminar will take place at the Estrella Professional Center, 15655 W Roosevelt Street, Goodyear, AZ 85338. Cable Research Lab's award winning Silver Series cables will be featured. For additional information, or to learn where to buy, visit http://www.cableresearchlab.com NEWS RELEASE 5/10/09 Computer Audiophile is proud to announce the inaugural Computer Audiophile Symposium to take place at world-renowned Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California. Never before has an event demonstrated this complete musical chain. Experience everything from a live acoustic performance to a high resolution digital recording to the state of the art in computer-based playback. Witness legendary Recording Engineer and product innovator Prof. Keith O. Johnson capture this live performance. Industry leaders including Mastering Engineer Paul Stubblebine, Reference Recording's Marcia Martin, Sonic Studio's Jonathan Reichbach, Berkeley Audio Design's Michael "Pflash" Pflaumer, and representatives from Meridian-Sooloos will illustrate every step in the chain from performance to playback. In addition to these well recognized panelists, Matan Arazi will debut a groundbreaking music server and his approach to developing this all-out assault on computer based-playback. The major purpose of this Symposium will be focussed on clearing up confusion and explaining high quality computer-based playback in the home. Chris Connaker, Founder of Computer Audiophile and accomplished Information Technology professional, will discuss and demonstrate a wide array of music server technologies. Chris will cover many topics from file formats to FireWire interfaces and DACs to operating system configurations to digital music distribution throughout the home. These are just a sampling of the topics Chris will review in this new and exciting world of computer and High-End audio convergence. The Symposium will also provide attendees an opportunity to ask questions and interact with every panelist and presenter. Hear first hand from the people who have been in the trenches of computer-based audio for over 18 years. This is an extraordinary opportunity to learn about the current state of computer-based playback in addition to where it may be headed. Concluding this unique experience will be the opportunity to download a high resolution recording of the exact performance witnessed by the Symposium attendees. This will provide a valuable reference to compare the sound of live versus recorded music as each person ventures into the next phase of their musical journey with computer-based playback. The Computer Audiophile Symposium will be hosted by Computer Audiophile's Founder Chris Connaker and sponsored by Tim Marutani of Marutani Consulting in Emeryville, CA and Maier Shadi of The Audio Salon in Beverly Hills, CA. This Symposium will be centered around innovation, knowledge and insight into the complete musical chain and focused heavily on computer-based playback. State of the art high-end playback systems will be used during the Symposium to demonstrate technologies and concepts. However this will not be an event that revolves solely around audio components. Rather, insightful concepts and discussions about how certain components may be used to obtain high quality sound will take precedence. Attendees will hear from both technical innovators as well as those who understand and have designed demanding home audio solutions for audiophiles around the world. In addition to all of this, the location of this Symposium is enough to give any music aficionado goose bumps. Fantasy Studios has an incredibly rich history involving artists from Creedence Clearwater Revival to Santana to countless Jazz greats. Entering Fantasy Studios and walking the halls that so many greats have walked in addition to attending the Symposium in Studios A and D where so many great recordings were made is a profound experience in itself. Join those with a passion for music at the place where decades of great music was recorded and gain tremendous insight into reproducing great recordings in the home. The Computer Audiophile Symposium will consist of two identical sessions the weekend of June 27th & 28th, 2009. Food and Beverages will be served at both sessions. Each session will be at least four hours in length (breaks included). Parking is available in the Fantasy Studios lot at no additional cost. There are a very limited number of tickets available for each session as this is a very intimate setting. The sessions will both be held in Studio A with the live recordings to take place in Studio D. Session One - 3 PM Saturday 06/27/2009 Price: $279 Session Two - 12 PM Sunday 06/28/2009 Price: $279 The Symposium sponsors share a passion for music that spans several decades. Timothy Marutani (Marutani Consulting, marutaniconsulting@earthlink.net, 1-510-652-1911) is a veteran dealer whose experience dates back to the 1970's. Even then Tim was drawn to cutting edge technologies. Tim's range of expertise is reflected in projects he has completed around the world, from whole house sound, video and automation to edge of the art two channel installations. He began using computer-based audio 14+ years ago and began a research project over two years ago with the goal of identifying the hardware and software that will define computer playback for his customers. Maier Shadi ( The Audio Salon, maier@theaudiosalon.com, 1-800-900-1563) is a dealer whose professional relationship with High End audio began in the 1990's. Maier has developed a world wide customer base including senior executives, managers and artists at major record labels. His experience developing reference quality two channel systems and his commitment to service sets him apart in the industry. To Maier the future of computer-based playback will fulfill the promise of ultimate sound quality and unmatched convenience. Maier continues to share his passion with customers whether they are building their first or last high-end system. The collaboration between Tim and Maier in sponsoring and codeveloping this Symposium is driven by a desire to help remove the initial hurdles that computer playback presents and allow end users to resume their enjoyment of music. Information about the Symposium host: Chris Connaker is an audiophile who has loved music and high quality sound for as long as he can remember. He listens to all types of music on CD, SACD, DVD-Audio, Vinyl, and high quality downloads. He started Computer Audiophile to fill a large gap in the audiophile community. While trying to take his music listening experience to the next level with a computer-based system he discovered it was very hard to find answers and quality products for audiophile grade computer-based / music servers. Instead of waiting for traditional sources to cover this in greater detail, Chris founded Computer Audiophile in November of 2007. The site brings together Chris' background in Information Technology and his passion for music. Chris has over a decade of experience designing, configuring, and managing global IT networks. From desktop hardware and software to network disk / storage to switches, routers, and firewalls. Chris has experience with all of them. Chris believes the term "computer audiophile" will soon be synonymous with "audiophile" and future generations of audiophiles will laugh at the fact people once used anything other than music servers.
Contact Information: NEWS RELEASE 5/1/09 Dynaudio North America is proud to announce that it has been appointed as the distributor for Octave Audio for the USA and Canada. Octave Audio, based in Karslbad-Ittersbach Germany, has been producing high-end tube electronics for over 20 years. Octave was actually founded in 1968, at first producing transformers and specialized industrial equipment for the infrasonic industry. The development of tube amplifiers began in 1980, and the first Octave product produced was the forerunner of the HP 500 preamp, which itself was brought to market in 1987. Today Octave offers a wide range of tube-based amplification products ranging from the attractively priced V40SE integrated amplifier up to its state-of-the-art Jubilee preamp and mono block amplifiers. Engineered and built in Germany, Octave models incorporate unique monitoring and protection systems and an innovative combination of sophisticated tube and elegant semiconductor circuitry. Octave integrated and power amplifiers feature an extremely accurate bias control calibration system that anyone can use to precisely bias the tubes. In contrast to simple Class A power amplifiers, Octave amplifiers operate in Class A/B, which demands precise setup and control of the bias current. The sophisticated built-in bias calibration system simplifies this adjustment, which is crucial to sound quality. As the bias adjusters on Octave's amplifiers are outside the case and complimented by front panel display indicators, anyone, regardless of their technical knowledge, can easily adjust the bias of the individual tubes to an extremely high level of precision - within 0.3% accuracy - without any special tools or measurement equipment necessary. Octave (integrated and power) amplifiers also feature power management with soft-start control, which extends component and tube life by smoothly ramping up the tube heaters and operating voltage from switch-on. Thus, the power supply components never have to deal with the usual huge inrush of switch-on current. This extends component life considerably, ensuring that every Octave amplifier performs at peak performance for a very long time. They also feature an advanced electronic protection system that continually monitors the output level of the tubes. Should the output be short-circuited or overloaded, the protection system acts immediately to electronically isolate the power supply and protect the components. Combined, the power management and protection systems provide optimum all-around protection, which will even safeguard against abuse. The systems protect the amplifiers from damage through incorrect usage or tube faults, making Octave amongst the very few tube amplifiers that are as easy to operate as top quality transistor designs. In addition to offering protection against faults, the aforementioned systems also extend tube life expectancy to 3-5 years for the power tubes and 5 -8 years for the driver tubes. Octave integrated and power amplifiers have also been engineered to offer excellent load stability, optimizing their output transformers for 4 ohm loads, thus making the amplifiers perfectly at home driving any loudspeaker, including "real" 8 ohm models. Octave preamplifiers feature electronic stabilization of the power supply, which serves to ensure a high stability of the sound as well as the bias setting during mains variations, while also yielding improved bass performance and a greater overall effortlessness of the reproduced sound. The Octave lineup features 3 integrated amplifiers, the V40SE ($4,900), V70 ($6,600) and V80 ($9,800 line/$10,500 with either MM or MC phono stage) , the HP 300 mk II ($5,500 line/$6,800 with MC Phono Stage) and HP 500SE ($10,000 line/ $11,500 with MM/MC phono stage) preamps, the RE 280 mk II ($8,000) stereo and MRE 130 ($16,000 per pair) mono block power amps, as well as the Jubilee Preamp ($35,000) and Jubilee Monoblock ($67,500 per pair) amplifiers. Octave also offers the optional Black Box ($1,200) and Super Black Box ($3,500) power supply capacitance upgrade modules. A stand-alone phono module is forthcoming as well. The Octave website can be accessed at www.octave.de, with the English section slated to be updated shortly. For further assistance or additional press information please contact:
Dynaudio North America
About Octave: Dynaudio established Dynaudio North America in 1995 to distribute Dynaudio consumer loudspeaker systems to the United States and Canada, and today Dynaudio North America also distributes OCOS constant impedance loudspeaker cables as well as Octave tube electronics to the market. NEWS RELEASE 4/21/09 The aR2 (Auricap filter capacitors) and aR2-T (Aura-T filter capacitors) are extra heavy duty power conditioners designed to handle the highest demanding of power amplifiers. The aR2 sports a 32A PowerCon AC connector and NEW extra heavy ground plane technology. However, the aR2 is not limited to heavy current amplifiers. The performance of the aR2 is exemplary and contains approximately the same aggregate capacitance filtering as the larger aR6 (six outlet) power conditioner. The aR2 MSRP is $2100 and the aR2-T MSRP is $4200.00. The aR2-T is being offered at $3,900.00 as an introductory special price. Available in plain or black grained satin anodized aluminum in 120v and 220v for all countries. Six foot Audience powerChord e included. NEW Audience Au24 powerChord option available for an extra $1525.00. Audience, LLC NEWS RELEASE 4/21/09 Benchmark Media Systems, the designers of the award-winning DAC1 family, has announced the release of their flagship stereo preamplifier, the DAC1 HDR. The DAC1 HDR incorporates several of Benchmark's proprietary designs: the AdvancedUSB computer audio interface, the DAC1 digital-to-analog converter, and the HPA2 headphone amplifier. It builds on Benchmark's DAC1 PRE with the addition of a unique remote control solution and motorized volume potentiometer. "The DAC1 HDR features a custom-built, motor-driven Alps volume control," says John Siau, Vice-President of Benchmark Media Systems. "Our approach to remote volume-control is unconventional, since we were not satisfied with either the dynamic range limitations of digital volume controls or with the distortion and noise introduced by IC-based analog volume controls. Our customers should not have to sacrifice clean and transparent sound to enjoy the convenience of remote control. The DAC1 HDR delivers performance and convenience." The remote control of the DAC1 HDR controls on/off, input selection, volume, soft-mute, and adjustable dim level. The user can adjust the "dim" volume setting and the "normal" volume settings independently, and the DAC1 HDR will remember those volume settings. This feature targets the HDTV users, who may want to lower the volume during commercials without losing the normal volume setting. The DAC1 HDR main unit is similar to Benchmark's DAC1 PRE in form, function, and performance. It can connect to a digital cable box, HDTV, DVD/CD player, computer, music server, satellite radio, FM tuner, phono stage, VCR, etc. The DAC1 HDR will be available with both black and silver faceplates. "We are incredibly excited about the DAC1 HDR's remote control solution," said Elias Gwinn, application engineer. "The custom volume potentiometer maintains the full sound quality, and the unique dim settings give the user unprecedented control." Benchmark will begin shipping the DAC1 HDR the week of April 20, 2009. Price is $1895.00 USD. More information about the DAC1 HDR is available at: http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/system1/digital-analog-converter/dac1-hdr Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. is a privately-held manufacturer of precision audio electronics providing leading-edge performance to audio professionals and enthusiasts since 1978. Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. NEWS RELEASE 4/21/09 At the Detroit Auto Show in January, Jaguar unveiled the 2010 XKR and XFR automobiles and announced that the exclusive award-winning Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system would be available as standard equipment. The ongoing partnership of the two British icons yields a benchmark audio system that has set the standard for both sonic excellence and operational elegance—a perfect reflection of the Jaguar tradition. The Bowers & Wilkins automotive development team continues to build its program upon the same rigorous component specification and selection that the company has utilized for its long lineage of unexcelled home audio and home theater audio systems. Turning this expertise to the unique challenges of in-car system engineering and tuning ensures a consistent, and compelling musically engrossing entertainment experience for the driver and passengers alike. The Jaguar audio systems features core Bowers & Wilkins elements, in particular its hallmark Kevlar® midrange loudspeaker units, and famed low-distortion, high-performance aluminum tweeters. The Kevlar speaker diaphragms for the Jaguar systems were specially refined to preserve the trademark Bowers & Wilkins musical purity and detail, bringing listeners as close to the music as they might be a live performance—even in the challenging mobile environment. Unlike more conventional speaker designs, dispersion of accurate musical balance is much more uniform, bringing convincing sound to all the passengers. Aluminum tweeter domes were chosen because of their natural, distortion-free performance even under enormous dynamic demands giving the listener a more detailed and revealing listening experience regardless of moving speed and overall volume setting. The XFR and XKR are two cars that are true to Jaguar's legendary heritage performance, delivering a superb balance of automotive high performance, dynamic response and refinement. Both vehicles feature the all-new AJ-V8 Gen III direct-injection engines which promises to deliver more power and more performance with no loss in fuel efficiencies and a decrease in emissions. Bowers & Wilkins' experience and know-how has been applied to all models of both vehicle ranges to ensure premium sound quality; standard in the XFR, XK Portfolio and XKR and available in the XF, XF Portfolio and XK. The Bowers & Wilkins in-car audio system in the Jaguar XF has been voted Best Buy under £100,000 by What Hi Fi? Sound and Vision Ultimate Guide to High End Entertainment.
NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09
Electrocompaniet AS is proud to
announce that Peder Beckman has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for the
newly created North American Subsidiary, Electrocompaniet Inc. He started in his
new position April 1st, Peder Beckman has previously been employed by companies like Ultralink/XLO, Goldmund, Elite Audio Video Distribution and Musical Surrounding as their Director of Sales & Marketing. He has a 20 year + experience in the audio video market in both retail sales and as Nat'l Sales manager for several companies in consumer electronics.
Electrocompaniet is one of oldest
and most respected High End audio manufacture in Scandinavia, established 1974. NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09 "Silver Dream" interconnects - Artisan's pure silver "Silver Dream" RCA interconnects have been selling like hot-cakes. However, many people asked whether the same fabulous quality pure silver cables could be terminated with XLR balanced connectors. It seemed churlish to deny these people their dream cables!
The new leads are terminated with very high quality plugs from the industry standard and world leader Neutrik®. These are in the standard 3-pin arrangement, with a male plug one end and a female on the other - suitable for connecting the increasing number high-end hi-fi components that use the technically superior balanced connections. Pure silver audiophile interconnect cables have traditionally been the preserve of the ultra high end, but Artisan Silver Cables is on a mission to make the outstanding sonic benefits of pure silver cables available to a much wider range of hi-fi enthusiasts, by selling direct and keeping the prices much lower. Price for a half metre pair is £139, and the one metre version is £159. Artisan Silver Cables can be ordered direct from the web site at www.artisansilvercables.com NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09 New Aperion Audio® Bravus™ 8A Subwoofer Delivers High Performance to Value Conscious Consumers Aperion Audio "Once Again Raises the Bar" with the Release of the Bravus 8A Subwoofer by Offering a $999 Entry-Level 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System Portland, OR, April 3, 2009 — Aperion Audio, a direct-to-consumer manufacturer of award-winning home audio and home theater speakers, this week announced its newest addition to the Bravus line of subwoofers, the Bravus 8A. The Bravus 8A Subwoofer combines the build quality of the Bravus "D" series subwoofers with a price point that brings audiophile quality within reach of a broader range of speaker buyers.
Aperion Bravus 8A Subwoofer
Quality and Value With both performance and value in mind, the new Bravus 8A features an 8" high-excursion custom aluminum driver, (the same award-winning driver as the Bravus "D" series), a 100 watt class A/B amplifier, and a 40-160Hz customizable crossover, resulting in a full, robust sound which exceeds the demanding requirements of serious music and movie fans at a price that fits the current economic climate. $999 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System "We were challenged to bring Aperion quality to a 5.1 system below $1,000. I'm excited that we pulled it off by featuring the Bravus 8A Subwoofer in the Aperion Intimus 4B Harmony SA System," said Ken Humphreys, Lead Audio Speaker Engineer at Aperion Audio. In addition to the Bravus 8A Subwoofer, the Intimus 4B Harmony SA system includes four compact Intimus 4B Satellite Speakers, and the Intimus 4C Center Channel Speaker, both of which received high marks in recent CNET and Audioholics reviews. Furniture-Grade Finish All Aperion speakers are beautifully finished in either real cherry wood or high gloss piano black lacquer at a quality that you would expect to see only in products twice the price and which "customers and reviewers alike describe as absolutely gorgeous," said Hopkins. The Aperion Advantage Purchasing Aperion Audio speakers represents a better investment than typical consumer goods, which depreciate the moment they are delivered, because Aperion offers value conscious shoppers a One-Year Full-Price Trade-Up Program, and an unmatched 10-Year Warranty (3 years on amplifiers). Aperion was the first in their industry to offer free shipping both ways with their Risk Free 30-Day In-Home Audition™, and Aperion's "Home Theater Gurus" are available to assist those in the market for audio speakers from the decision making process through lifetime technical support. Plus, because Aperion is headquartered in Oregon, there is never any sales tax. Pricing and Availability The $319 Aperion Bravus 8A Subwoofer and the $999 Intimus 4B Harmony SA home theater speaker system are both available at AperionAudio.com, or at our showroom at 18151 SW Boones Ferry Road in Portland, Oregon. (Prices always include free shipping.) NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09 Acoustic Energy, the award-winning U.K.-based designer and manufacturer of audiophile-grade loudspeakers, today introduced the Radiance Series, a new flagship lineup of precision loudspeakers for music and cinema lovers who demand no-compromise performance and elegant visual appeal. Today's high-resolution audio sources for the home are as good as what comes out of the mastering suite," says Moses Gabbay, Managing Director, Acoustic Energy Ltd. "But all too few speakers are able to render all their detail and realism. With the Radiance Series, home listeners can now really experience everything that went into the recordings, through speakers that are as beautiful to the eyes as they are to the ears." The Radiance Series is distinguished by an exciting new high-frequency dispersion technology dubbed the "DXT® Lens." Using advanced profile calculations, the DXT® Lens matches the sound wave dispersion from the tweeter to that of the bass driver. This improves interaction between the speakers and the room and provides time coherence that dramatically ‘naturalizes' the entire soundfield. At the top of the Radiance Series stands the mighty Radiance 3 ($3,000/pr.), a 3-way floor-standing design that features a 38mm Neodymium Ring-radiator tweeter, as well as super-fast low-frequency and mid-band drivers with twin-wound aluminum voice coils that combine exceptional power handling of up to 200 watts with enough sensitivity (90 dBm/watt/meter) to mate perfectly with more modestly powered solid state and tube amplifiers. Response is a broad and flat 40Hz to 45kHz ± 3dB. The same core Acoustic Energy technologies are shared by the smaller Radiance 1 ($1,200/pr.) and Radiance 2 ($2,000/pr.) models, designed for bookshelf or speaker stand placement. The accompanying Radiance Center ($800 ea.) utilizes the same driver and DXT® Lens technologies, and is a perfect timbral match for any of the other Radiance models. The Radiance Subwoofer ($1,200 ea.) completes the picture with deep, authoritative bass from a compact, unobtrusive enclosure. With their elegant curved lines, attractive cast aluminum metal work and the highest quality real-wood veneers, the Radiance Series make beautiful items of furniture that are at home in any décor. The Acoustic Energy Radiance Series will be available in February to authorized Acoustic Energy dealers. Acoustic Energy Limited was founded in 1987 and originally based in West London before relocating to its current 15,000 sq. ft. facility in Cotswolds. Today, the company enjoys a stellar reputation among hi-fi and home theater fans on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks to the unchanging passion for truthfulness to the original source material that is the hallmark of all the company's offerings. In the U.S., Acoustic Energy is located at 675 VFW Parkway, #102, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. For further information about Acoustic Energy and its products, please contact Adam Sohmer, 718-499-9161, adam@sohmerassoc.com, or visit the company's web site at www.acoustic-energy.co.uk. NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09 Bluebird Music is pleased to announce immediate availability of Spendor's new A5 and A6 loudspeakers. The new Spendor A5 and A6 are compact high performance floor standing loudspeakers. Each model benefits from important advances in Spendor's drive unit technology, cabinet design and crossover engineering. The fourth generation Spendor 'linear flow' port give the A5 and A6 unrivalled ability to deliver deep articulate bass. Spendors Dynamic Damping system uses constrained polymer dampers at key energy interface points, instantly converting any spurious energy in the cabinet into inaudible heat for a naturally fast and engaging sound. The new steel stabilizer disk system eliminates flexure at the plinth and contributes to the neat appearance and good stability of these slim cabinets. Clean modern styling blends confidently with any decor. "In a Group Test with not one bum note, it's the all-new Spendors [A5] that take the glory. We can't praise them enough... these are astoundingly good floorstanders... the most accomplished speakers available at this money." - What HiFi Group Test Winner, February 2009 The Spendor A5 offers exceptional performance in relation to its compact dimensions. New drive units based on technology developed for the recently launched Spendor SA1 ensure clear and natural mid-range and a beautifully open treble. The new 15cm drive units have a magnesium alloy chassis to support the long throw motor system which helps to give these loudspeakers a remarkably big and powerful sound. The fluid cooled 22mm wide-surround tweeter completes the driver array. The linear flow reflex port system allows the A5 to be placed in relatively close proximity to rear walls with minimal interaction, and the structural spike support system provides solid clean bass response. The Spendor A6 lifts performance with its new drive units and design features. The advanced wide-surround 29mm tweeter and newly refined 18cm main drive unit give a stable low distortion response over a wide frequency range. "The A6 may look ordinary, but the performance is anything but that. These are brilliant speakers for the money. Their sound is a class-leading combination of insight and naturalness. A fast, detailed and dynamic sound, natural sonic balance, transparency, sturdy build. The A6's are stunning." - What HiFi 5 Star Winner, February 2009 "Deliver a clean feed and the results are simply staggeringly engaging and enjoyable. ..these speakers [A6] will bring real, live, breathing music into your home. Products like the SA1 and A6 [are]setting exacting new performance standards at their price points. Easy to use, easy to drive and easy to get the best out of, I love the A6s. They're GRRRRRREAT!" - Roy Gregory HiFi+, February 2009 The ultra rigid cabinet with Spendor's dynamic damping system gives super fast response, whilst high linearity components, silver plated cables and Spendors machined stabilizer system all contribute to the unrivalled sound quality. With their clean modern styling and natural veneer finishes the new A5 and A6 will blend comfortably and confidently with almost any room décor. Available finishes are wenge, cherry and black ash. The plinth has a contrasting black satin lacquer finish. US retail prices are $2,595 for the A5 shown in the top image in cherry finish, and $3,295 for the larger A6 shown in the same image in wenge finish. NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09 Following up on the successful introduction on LEKTOR 1, 6, 8 and LCR –already successfully reviewed around the globe, DALI now introduces the last models in the series: LEKTOR 2, 3 and SUB. All models are now shipping and can be auditioned in the shops within a short period of time. LEKTOR 2 and 3 are compact loudspeakers developed to suit a wide variety of needs, ranging from compact audio (stereo or 2.1) setups to more elaborate home cinema installations. The speakers are intended for on-wall mounting, featuring integrated wall brackets for easy mounting without the need for extra accessories. As an extra positioning option, LEKTOR 3 can be mounted on a stand. LEKTOR SUB is a compact, yet powerful subwoofer with a 10" long stroke woofer and a 300 watt amplifier, both housed in a MDF cabinet (bass reflex design). For deep and optimal bass response, the bass reflex tube is positioned under the bottom of the subwoofer making the bass port virtually longer than the tube itself. This is possible because the subwoofer has 2.5cm/1" high rubber feet, which will create a space between the subwoofer and the floor, which works as an extension of the bass port. The LEKTOR speakers are strong new contenders in the very challenging "mid-price" segment. All key components in the LEKTOR speakers are newly developed, implementing advanced technologies and materials originally introduced in the more costly and multi award winning IKON® Series to deliver class leading sonic performance. In keeping with DALI® tradition and philosophy, the development of the drivers for the LEKTOR Series has been the critical milestone to achieve an extraordinary final result. The woofers incorporate wood fiber cones, low-loss suspensions and powerful magnet systems – all prerequisites for clear, accurate, undistorted sound. The soft dome tweeters are based on the same technology platform developed for the IKON® Series: 28 mm (1.1") lightweight soft domes, powerful magnet systems and a geometrical design optimized for wide dispersion. As a result, the tweeter system is able to render the subtlest musical details with great precision. LEKTOR® 2 is shipping now at M.S.R.P. €199 LEKTOR® 3 is shipping now at M.S.R.P. €249 LEKTOR® SUB is shipping now at M.S.R.P. €699
NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09
McIntosh®
Laboratory, renowned as a leading manufacturer of the world's best and most
complete ultra-luxury home entertainment solutions, today announced that its
highly anticipated 60th anniversary limited-edition reissues of legendary
amplifiers are now available at select retailers. The reissued components,
including the MC75 monoblock tube amplifier (modeled after the original 1961
version) and the C22 preamplifier (originally introduced in 1962), comprise
McIntosh's new Limited Edition 60th anniversary "Classic System." Both
components have been updated for use in today's modern home entertainment
universe, and only 120 sets of the classic system will be available in North
America, for a suggested retail price of $15,000.
Noted Mr. Randall: "As McIntosh looks back on our 60
years in home entertainment we have much to be proud of, not the least of which
is the integral part we played in the emergence of what came to be known as
‘high fidelity.' Our Classic System reissue is a storied reminder of our
influential audio pedigree, and reflects two of our greatest triumphs, both now
available with performance improvements and updated circuitry to ensure their
continued technological superiority." The McIntosh MC75 75-watt per channel stereo amplifier was introduced in 1961, just three years after the BBC began its first regular broadcasts in stereo sound. The debut of this ultimate-quality monoblock amp reflected McIntosh's early and continuing commitment to pushing the limits of performance and providing customers with the very best solutions in audio. Largely true to the original design, the new Limited Edition MC75 offers many circuit updates that improve reliability while retaining the alluring sonic character of the original. Among the updates is a custom application of the patented Sentry Monitor short circuit protection. Balanced inputs and outputs are added to make the amplifier ready for today's digital sources. The MC75 develops 75 watts into 2, 4, or 8 ohms. A brilliant, triple-polished gold color titanium stainless steel chassis takes the place of chrome plating for a stunning appearance that lasts a lifetime. Introduced in 1962, the McIntosh C22 Tube Preamplifier ushered in the era of the audio preamp as the "control center". Designed to function as a superb line stage, phono preamp, equalizer and input switch, the C22 raised the bar for competing preamplifiers, and forged a standard of features and flexibility for future McIntosh preamp designs that endures to this day. The 60th anniversary C22 recreates the look and feel of the original with its backlit glass and brushed anodized aluminum front panel, and sees the addition of a number of circuit enhancements that bring the design current with recent McIntosh preamplifier specifications. Balanced inputs and outputs are provided to ensure optimum performance with fine quality source components, while the addition of a moving coil and moving magnet phono amplifier guarantees compatibility with the widest range of phono cartridges. Created with modern materials and manufacturing methods, all signal switching in the C22 is done with electromagnetic switches driven by Digital Logic. Lastly, in what is perhaps the most striking nod to contemporary technology, the Limited Edition C22 comes complete with an IR remote control. NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09 After two years in development, Audia Flight is proud to introduce their new PHONO preamp. There will be a forthcoming review by Michel Fremer in the May '09 issue of stereophile. It's an exceptional review, in which Michael compares the Audia Phono against both his Manley Steelhead and also the Boulder 2008 (+$30,000) - Michael is buying the Audia Flight Phono as well! A separate power supply, the dedicated input preamplifier boards, the high gain (74dB in its maximum selection), the low noise are only few of the characteristics. A fully active phono preamp without a step-up transformer! Of course the separate power supply was chosen to improve the shielding of the preamp and to reduce to zero the vibrations and resonance from the transformers. On the preamp chassis, there is a low noise mosfet power supply for the second gain stage and another power supply for the first gain stage, so, in total, there are six power supplies! It is possible to order the Audia Phono preamp with the input gain board desired (MM and MC, or two MM inputs, or two MC inputs). On both input boards the impedance selectors are very close to the input stage and it is made by professional gold jumpers from the rear panel. Custom resistors can also be used for precise cartridge matching. This is also done from the rear panel. The possibilities for impedance matching is infinite! North American retail price is $6,100.
MUSICAL SOUNDS NEWS RELEASE 4/02/09 Perreaux Launches the World's Most Powerful Integrated Amplifier. New Zealand hi fi amplifier manufacturer Perreaux is proud to announce the launch of the éloquence range, including the 250i – the world's most powerful Class-AB integrated amplifier.
"The 250i delivers in excess of 350 Watts of continuous power into an 8 Ohm load before clipping," says Perreaux Engineering Manager, Clinton Jensen, "making it the most powerful Class-AB integrated amplifier in the world." The 250i features a custom-designed 1000VA toroid power transformer, with an XQ core and magnetic shielding, to provide low electrical and mechanical noise, while offering well-regulated voltage and enormous amounts of current. A low-impedance power supply, along with high-current MOSFET output devices and Class-A signal stages, result in a sound that is "dynamic, commanding and resolute"; according to Martin van Rooyen, Perreaux Managing Director. "Power delivery of the éloquence 250i Integrated Amplifier is totally effortless and remarkably clean," continues van Rooyen, "you find yourself continually wanting to turn it up and enjoy the music." The éloquence 250i is a sophisticated amplifier with many features, including input volume trim, initial volume, maximum volume limit, home theatre bypass, non-invasive balance control, customizable input labels, and more – all accessible via the intuitive user interface. Solid construction and build quality has always been a Perreaux hallmark and the éloquence 250i Integrated Amplifier is no exception; the rugged chassis design, 18mm thick milled aluminum front panel, massive custom heat sinks and unique surface finish exudes luxury and ensures a lifetime of trouble-free operation. The 250i's compact little brother, the éloquence 150i, is rated at 150 Watts into 8 Ohms and 300 Watts into 4 Ohms, and retains the same sonic characteristics, intuitive user interface and luxurious fit and finish. Both éloquence integrated amplifiers are available with an optional 24-bit/192kHz Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) – ensuring complete integration of digital source components, such as network music servers and set-top digital receivers, into a high-performance music system; as well as an optional Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) Phono Stage allowing connection of a turntable. The éloquence 250i Integrated Amplifier is priced at $8,999 USD and the 150i at $5,999 USD, both are available now. The optional DAC is $999 USD and Phono Stage $499 USD. For further information on the éloquence integrated amplifiers and optional modules contact Hi Sierra Hi-Fi or visit http://www.perreaux.com/. High-resolution images are available on the Perreaux website. NEWS RELEASE 3/10/09 The Lotus Group is proud to announce that it has been granted the distributorship of Hanss Acoustics turntables, electronics and accessories for the United States. Hanss Acoustics takes pride in designing and manufacturing high performance analog and digital components for the serious audiophile.
The Lotus Group NEWS RELEASE 2/15/09 Paradigm Electronics Inc., an international leader in speaker design and manufacturing, proudly introduces its Reference SUB 12 and SUB 15. Natural evolutions in Paradigm's lineup of award-winning subwoofers, these new models benefit from the company's years of research into the mechanics of producing louder, lower-frequency, lower-distortion bass. In fact, those three "Ls" are the driving force behind Paradigm's ongoing commitment to refine and improve subwoofer performance with each new generation. Although Paradigm's popular and successful Servo-15 subwoofer is now officially "retired" (as is the earth-shaking Seismic 12), the company has achieved servo-level performance even without the servo; as a result, the SUB 12 and SUB 15 possess higher playing ceilings and so much more. The new models' unique amplifier/driver configurations allow them to play "louder and lower" than any other subwoofers in their price range, and they still cost less! And unlike many designs on the market, not a hint of low-frequency extension or output was sacrificed to keep their size compatible with today's living spaces. The new models' proprietary, state-of-the-art high excursion bass drivers, first seen in the Signature SUB 25, were designed, engineered and manufactured by Paradigm in North America. The 12-inch driver in the SUB 12 and the 15-inch driver in the SUB 15 each include mineral-filled co-polymer polypropylene cones with RCR™ Resonance Control Ribs, powerful dual voice-coil designs (three-inch high-temperature aluminum voice coils and dual oversized spiders), multi-layer polyurethane-composite elliptical-shaped surrounds, large aluminum shorting rings situated around the voice coils, proprietary AVS™ Airflow Ventilation System cooling and large 35-lb FEA-optimized magnet assemblies. Dual Ultra-Class-D™ Amplifiers deliver a small form factor that nevertheless generates big power. Designed, engineered and manufactured in North America, both amplifiers are housed inside a single cabinet. Each amp is attached to the side of a unique "T-shape" aluminum center extrusion, FEA-optimized for exceptional heat dissipation, which means less heat, more power, and no noise. The amps deliver 3,400 watts Dynamic Peak Power and 1,700 watts RMS Sustained Power (850 watts each amplifier). Other features of the amps include switched mode power supplies, low-noise, high-power transformers, the highest-quality MOSFET transistors, noise suppression networks, advanced control circuits, full-bridge Ultra-Class-D design output stage, precision components and dual-sided military spec (FR-4 rated) glass/epoxy circuit boards, and advanced short-circuit protection. Their Paradigm-designed Digital Signal Processing means sophisticated mathematical algorithms "shape" frequency response to ensure accurate, consistent and musical bass performance. Input and control facilities include low-level inputs (RCA and Balanced XLR), auto on/off and trigger on/off, subwoofer cut-off with bypass option, subwoofer level control, phase alignment, and a USB Port for future upgrades and for use with the optional Paradigm Perfect Bass Kit (PBK-1), which compensates for a room's negative sonic effects on a subwoofer's performance. Low frequency extension in the SUB 15 is 12 Hz. In the SUB 12, it is 16 Hz. The SUB 12 retails for $1999 and the SUB 15 retails for $2,799. Both are now shipping with the full line of Paradigm Reference Studio Series v.5 speakers. For more information, please visit www.paradigm.com. NEWS RELEASE 2/15/09 Manufacturer Acoustic Preference d.o.o., established 2001 in Slovenia-EU have some new models of loudspeakers for 2009. They made speakers for those with the highest taste in performance and design. As it is aesthetically striking with it's complex hardwood selected materials, so is the full embodied, warm, dynamic and transparent sound it produces. For Gracioso and Maestoso speakers they take the best components available and squeeze the last potential from them. Drivers, crossover and enclosure are tuned to simply reproduce MUSIC. Gracioso is all about music. You can't think about technical details when you want to get lost in a song and let yourself be personally invited into the audio performance. Maestoso loudspeakers is the world unique model, because you can finally put a beautiful peace of technical equipment in your living room which interior preferred antique furniture. We use the most prestigious and high-quality wood of the European and American walnut for the housings of our speakers; this gives our products a mark of eternity. More info: www.acoustic-preference.com NEWS RELEASE 2/15/09 Ayre Acoustics is pleased to announce two new disc players, the CX-7e MP compact disc player and the C-5xeMP universal disc player. The new Minimum Phase series disc players incorporate Ayre's excusive MP digital filter and single-pass 16x over-sampling system. According to senior design engineer Charles Hansen, "The MP filter provides a significant step ahead in digital audio reproduction". The technological improvements translate into a more vivid and spatial soundstage, a richer and more complex tonal presentation and the sense of ease of a live acoustic event. To learn more about the MP series disc players visit us at… For more information on the new MP series disc players or to schedule an appointment to upgrade your existing CX-7, CX-7e or C-5xe disc player please contact your local authorized Ayre Acoustics dealer. NEWS RELEASE 2/15/09 UNIPHEYE MUSIC, LLC proudly announces the release of SMRD – Studio Master Reference Disc. Latest Technology brings the listener one step closer to sitting in the same room with the musicians. SMDR - Studio Master Reference Disc - from UNIPHEYE MUSIC are Ultra-High Resolution, actual digital copies of the original master recording delivered to the listener on data-only DVD-R discs that will be uploaded onto a computer or computer music server and played from the computer directly through the music reproduction system in the home.
UNIPHEYE MUSIC has released an exciting new format that allows digital recording technology to bring the listener much closer to the music listening and music making experience. It may surprise some to learn that that process of making the compact disc actually produced music with significantly degraded sound quality from the way in which it was recorded in the studio and concert hall. A process called down-sampling. "Our excitement is electric and contagious. A closer digital experience to actually sitting in the room with the musician has never been able to be offered to the end listener. Computers have provided us with the beginning of a new era in the living room music appreciating experience. This is the first time ever, in the history of music production that the listener can purchase so perfect a representation of what was originally digitally recorded, for playback in the home." offers Ira Norman Segall, owner and recording engineer. UNIPHEYE MUSIC, LLC now producing SMRD – Studio Master Reference Disc and bringing us, kicking and screaming, into a new age of the music listening experience. For information: www.unipheyemusic.com Contact: info@unipheyemusic.com Phone: 215.635.3499 NEWS RELEASE 2/15/09 Bluebird Music is pleased to announce immediate availability of the new HDMI Ultimate from Van den Hul. The VDH HDMI Ultimate is a no-compromise cable delivering the ultimate performance attainable from HDMI. This cable flawlessly transfers the HDMI 1.3b standard's huge amount of digital data over 50' (15m) distances without the requirement of using signal repeaters. The HDMI Ultimate is also guaranteed to be fully compliant with HDMI 1.3b specifications and to support display modes/resolutions up to and including 1080p for lengths up to 80' (25m). These distances can then be doubled using VDH's HDMI Repeater. Although specifications are set by official HDMI organizations, the cable design, purity of materials and manufacturing techniques can dramatically affect the final performance of an HDMI cable. Thus there are advantages to using high quality cables for high quality applications. The HDMI Ultimate is comprised of extra thick high density silver plated oxygen free copper conductors and low dissipation dielectrics. This results in exceptionally wide bandwidth, very low signal losses and ultra-low jitter ensuring a clear, highly detailed and very stable picture with impeccable sound. The cable features a heavy double outer shield making the cable virtually immune to external interference. Individually screened internal signal groups provide additional shielding and prevent crosstalk. The HDMI Ultimate is equipped with professional quality metal body HDMI 'Type A' connectors with heavy gold plated contacts and full strain relief. This is an especially important feature. These very high quality metal connectors provide the ultimate termination which prevents the wire from oxidizing at the ends. The Ultimate utilizes a high performance Halogen free Hulliflex jacket which also prevents oxidization along the length of the cable. This tip to tip completely closed system eliminates the harmful effects of cable oxidation thus ensuring the cable continues to perform up to spec for many years. Retail price is $279 for a 1 meter cable plus $60 per additional meter. "There's a lot of pressure on Van den Hul's latest HDMI cable. It's called the Ultimate, so anything less than five stars and it'll be a case of the no-so-Ultimate. Thankfully, this HDMI v1.3 cable lives up to its name. The Ultimate really does impress with its clear, detailed, realistic picture. Even more apparent is the sonic ability of this cable. It sounds controlled and composed. The level of refinement and finesse that it encourages is there for all to hear." - What Hi-Fi, 5 Stars award, October 2008. NEWS RELEASE 2/15/09 Klang Manufaktur, a small cable manufacturer from Germany, presents now the new cable series with the name of RIO, RII and RIIsym. These cables are designed and manufactured in small batch under the most demanding and perfectionist craftsmanship for music lovers. Features of the cables include, for example, the use of pure silver 4N foil or 4N solid core as conducting material which we treated topically afterwards; dielectric from high-tech plastic (polytetrafluoroethylene) and air; or our special cable netting, which was braided out of 6000 or 12000 single threads according to the model of the cable.
Pricing begins at 1230€ / pr. for 2 meter RIO speaker cable, 490€ / pr. for 0.6 meter RII interconnects and $890 / pr. for 0.6 meter RIIsym XLR interconnects. NEWS RELEASE 2/15/09 Starting February 2009, Grant Fidelity has officially become the distributor for three well-known Chinese high end audio brands - Jungson, Shengya and Opera-Consonance in both Canada and USA. All three companies are of over 15 years of history in OEM high end audio for North American / European brands. Jungson is China's #1 Class A audio manufacturer with flagship solid state amplifier's power up to 200 watts per channel in pure Class A mode. Their products have a unique appearance with ocean blue power meters at the front and all amplifiers come with their own special hand wound transformers. Grant Fidelity has been distributing Jungson's tube audio line under 'Grant Fidelity' brand for nearly a year and the flagship Grant Fidelity RITA-880 KT88 integrated tube amplifier has won SoundStage.com 2008 Best Product Debut Award as well as Reviewer's Choice Award. Jungson's products price range is from $800 up to $35,000, for both 2-channel and 6-channel. Shengya's products have been distributed worldwide under the brand of Vincent since 1990s with many industry awards. Grant Fidelity is taking on the Shengya's in-house line under Shengya brand, which has a complete different appearance from the Vincent line but sound quality is not a tiny less. Shengya is also best known for its hybrid amplifier design by using tubes and transistors in one unit to achieve both warm sound and high output power. Shengya's flagship solid state monoblocks can put out 600 watts per channel in Class A/B mode. Shengya's products price range is from $900 up to $30,000 for both 2-channel and 6-channel. Opera-Consonance is China's only high end turntable manufacturer with worldwide recognition. Grant Fidelity currently represents Opera-Consonance's analog line of products in North America to bring these well designed and well built turntables to vinyl lovers. Opera-Consonance flagship Droplet 5.0 turntable has won Enjoy the Music Best of 2005 Blue Note Equipment Award and recently the manufacturer has upgraded it to MKII version. Opera-Consonance turntables price range is from $1200 up to $5500, plus matching self-designed tonearms from $750 to $1800. In the next few months, Grant Fidelity will arrange to have these equipment reviewed by professional magazines and look forward to bringing exceptional value to North American consumers. Grant Fidelity is a Canadian business with strong ties with China - one of Grant Fidelity's business partner, Rachel Zhang was originally from China but received her MBA degree in North America. Ian Grant, the other partner has spent a good part of his life in recording studio with a good set of ears to tell which equipment can reproduce the recorded music the best. All 3 Chinese companies they represent are unquestionably the cream of the crop in Chinese and international audio industry. Besides a strong online presence, Grant Fidelity also adopts a unique demonstrator model to reduce distribution cost and provide personal services to customers at affordable prices. The official representation of Chinese manufacturers by Grant Fidelity will also allow North American consumers to purchase these high quality competitively priced products from an authorized source with real peace-of-mind warranty services. Grant Fidelity Can Jam 2009, the fourth annual Head-Fi International Meet, is coming to the Los Angeles Airport Hilton, May 30-31. The event unites headphone and portable audio enthusiasts, designers, and vendors from across the globe. Building on the successes of past International Meets in New York City, San Jose, and Fort Lauderdale, Can Jam 2009 will be the most ambitious Head-Fi event to date, mirroring the growth of the internet's largest audio community. Legendary recording engineer and remastering guru Steve Hoffman headlines the event with a music-driven lecture on Saturday, May 30. He will be joined by recording producer Joe Harley for a behind-the-scenes discussion of their work on the Music Matters series of Blue Note Jazz re-issues. Can Jam 2009 will be Hoffman's second appearance at a Head-Fi International Meet, having captivated a standing-room-only audience in April, 2007. Sennheiser USA will be on hand, allowing attendees to audition the company's latest audiophile headphone, the highly anticipated HD800. Likewise, Ultrasone Inc. will showcase their newest high-end headphone, the Edition 8. Representatives from a number of other manufacturing companies, as well as retail vendors like Todd the Vinyl Junkie, Moon Audio, and Head-Direct will be displaying their wares and providing product demonstrations. Westone will be highlighting a new entry into the crowded field of high-end in-ear-monitors (IEMs) with their triple-driver model known as the "3". Many other IEM makers, including Shure Inc., Ultimate Ears by Logitech, and Klipsch, are also expected to participate. Furthermore, the burgeoning headphone amplifier sector will be well represented at Can Jam 2009, with vendors such as Headroom, Ray Samuels Audio, Headamp Audio Electronics, and Eddie Current Audio in attendance. In addition to traditional vendor and manufacturer showcases, a number of Head-Fi members will generously set up their own headphone systems for listening. This showcases a number of premier efforts in self-built/designed equipment, as well as legends like the Sennheiser Orpheus electrostatic system and AKG K1000 earspeakers. Members will also bring numerous computer-based and portable audio systems, showing the full breadth of headphone usage. Can Jam 2009 will occupy approximately 10,000 square feet of show space across 14 rooms on the second floor of the Hilton. Isolated rooms for high-end speaker demonstrations will be available, as well as dedicated space for lectures and live music. Specific rooms may be designated for electrostatic headphones, computer-based-audio, portable audio, or other relevant areas of interest. Head-Fi.org sees more than 25,000 unique visitors per day, making it the world's most popular online destination for audio discussion. About 4,000 of the site's 87,000+ members log in on a daily basis. With forums dedicated to home, portable, and computer-based audio, high-end audio, and do-it-yourself headphone audio, Head-Fi provides an ever-growing and dynamic point of reference to internet users, with more than four million postings since its inception in June, 2001. NEWS RELEASE 1/20/09 HeadRoom Micro Line Products- Same Great Sound, Now at a Lower Price HeadRoom's Micro Line of headphone amps and DAC's deliver inexpensive audiophile goodness in only a coffee cup's worth of real estate neatly tucked away on your desktop. In these especially tough times, we've decided it's the perfect opportunity to take some strain off your pocketbook by offering all our popular Micro Line products at even lower prices -- without cutting any corners. So the same serious reference-grade build quality always found in our HeadRoom electronics, the same great operational features that demanding audiophiles have come to expect, and the same incredible musical performance that thrills headphone lovers worldwide, is now available at wallet-friendlier prices.
Inexpensive Audiophile Goodness just got better. HeadRoom Micro Amp... was $399 Now $333 HeadRoom Micro DAC... was $399 Now $333 The "Ultra Line" has all the same great features, but with upgraded internal components, delivering stunning audio in a tiny footprint. HeadRoom Ultra Micro Amp... was $699 Now $599 HeadRoom Ultra Micro DAC... was $699 Now $599 Here's what others are saying about HeadRoom's Micro Line products:
I'm fully prepared to believe that the HeadRoom
Ultra Micro Headphone Amp is indeed "the highest quality audio per cubic inch
known to humankind."
I am acutely aware, here, that I am not just
teetering on the edge of the audiophile malarkey abyss; I'm sliding into it on a
toboggan. But prolonged listening, and swapping between the outputs of different
gear (with and without the DAC) confirmed it. The Micro Amp and Micro Stack
really do sound clearly, immediately better than anything else I've got around
here.
The Ultra Micro DAC and Ultra Micro Headphone Amp
together reproduced seriously good sound with every pair of headphones I plugged
in to them. ... The two Ultra Micros really are a perfect pair.
All I can say is why did I wait so long to do
upgrade to the Ultra Micro DAC? The sound is overall better, with specific
improvements in cleanliness, texture, realism, soundstage, bass, separation, I'm
running out of adjectives but you get the point.
I absolutely love my HeadRoom Micro Amp and Micro
DAC (totally worth the money). When combined with the Sennheiser HD-650s, the
sound is nothing short of amazing.
HeadRoom Musical Surroundings is pleased to introduce the Fosgate Signature phono preamp from world-renowned audio designer Jim Fosgate. Most famous for his work on surround sound (Dolby Pro-Logic II) and car audio (Rockford-Fosgate car stereo), Jim listens to tubes and vinyl in his personal system. His passion for analog and tube sound has lead to the development of the Fosgate Signature phono preamp. Jim Fosgate has chosen Musical Surroundings to bring his very special design to market. Over the past 30 years, Jim Fosgate built and tested more than 100 different designs before settling on the one that became the Fosgate Signature. This design features all tube amplification and rectification with no solid-state devices in the signal path, switchable moving magnet/moving coil gain setting and variable loading settings from 50 to 47K ohms. The industrial design of the Fosgate Signature is clean and modern, using blue LED illumination for the tubes, yet also retro, proudly displaying its 7 tubes (with no cage) and real wood end caps. The Fosgate Signature is a warm, detailed, inviting phono pre-amplifier with great extension at both frequency extremes. It is an extraordinary imager, with depth and width comparable to units at much higher price points. The Fosgate Signature is an exceptional value at its projected retail price of $2500. Musical Surroundings
NEWS RELEASE 1/20/09 Artisan Silver Cables launch pure silver interconnects at affordable prices. Pure silver audiophile interconnect cables have traditionally been the preserve of the ultra high end, typically selling for £500 or more per pair & putting them out of reach for all but the most well-heeled audiophiles. Artisan Silver Cables have set out to change all that. By bypassing the usual complex distribution networks, with their multiple middle-men, the prices can be kept down very much lower and the benefits of pure silver cables can be enjoyed by a wider audience. Silver—the world's most conductive metal—is sheathed in deliberately slightly loose-fitting Teflon, so that the conductors are partly surrounded by air, which is widely agreed to be one the finest-sounding dielectric materials. They add in heavily silver-plated connectors, silver-rich solder & noise rejecting Litz-weave construction to give ultra-pure and sweet sounding cables. Price for a half metre pair is £129, with the one metre version coming in at £149. Artisan Silver Cables can be ordered direct from the web site at www.artisansilvercables.com .
NEWS RELEASE 1/10/09 Through joint agreement of all parties and effective immediately, Audio Plus Services has assumed North American distribution of Pathos Acoustics from Musical Surroundings. The agreement was reached during CES 2009 as a result of the mutual cooperation of Garth Leerer of Musical Surroundings, Daniel Jacques of Audio Plus Services, and Paolo Andriolo of Pathos Acoustics. Audio Plus Services is the right organization to realize the potential of Pathos. There is a special synergy between JMLab/Focal speakers and Pathos electronics, having exhibited together at most major audio shows in North America since 2004. From the Stereophile report on Home Entertainment 2007 "The Pathos InPower monoblock amplifier… features some of the most beautiful industrial design I saw at the show… the design proved its merit by driving the Focal 1037 Be loudspeakers with speed, dynamics, and excellent imaging. The room was a favorite among the Stereophile writers at the Show." Pathos' new product line, lead by their flagship Adrenalin mono block amplifiers and matching Synapse preamplifier, debuted at CES 2009. Both have been recognized with CES Design and Engineering awards, the Adrenalin winning "best of" in the High Performance Audio category. These new products are the ideal complement to the recently introduced Utopia EM series by JM Labs/Focal. Garth Leerer, president of Musical Surroundings, emphasized his 19 year old company's ongoing commitment to their key product lines: Aesthetix, Benz Micro, and Clearaudio, as well as continued growth in the analog segment of the market. Musical Surroundings' introduction of new analog products at CES 2009, the Fosgate Signature tube phono stage and Fozgometer ARM (azimuth range meter), are all significant factors prompting Leerer to arrange the Pathos and Audio Plus Services relationship. NEWS RELEASE 1/10/09 Bluebird Music is pleased to introduce the new SA1 loudspeaker from England's Spendor Audio. The new Spendor ST (Statement) is a distinctive high performance loudspeaker. Beautifully styled with a gently curved shimmering piano black lacquer cabinet, the ST conceals a wealth of new Spendor engineering and innovation. The sophisticated modern look and individual character of each ST is enhanced by a luxurious fascia inlay. The Spendor ST is a 2.5 way system, it benefits from the 'sound synergy' which can be achieved when two specifically designed drive units work in perfect harmony in the same acoustic enclosure. A meticulously refined crossover network with high grade electrical components, super linear 630V capacitors and d WBT Next-Gen terminals integrate all three drivers seamlessly in a phase aligned configuration. The slim elegant cabinet disguises a substantial 45 liter acoustic enclosure which ensures deep powerful low frequency response. Bass loading is a development of the proven Spendor S series linear-flow system which ensures consistent sound and well controlled bass in any listening environment. Down to the last detail the Spendor ST is engineered without compromise. To ensure absolute mechanical stability, (essential for perfect sound), the base of each ST cabinet carries a set of four machined steel stabilizer discs, these are rigidly attached deep into the core structure of the cabinet. They also ensure the widest possible footprint for good stability. US retail price is $8,995 per pair. For the Spendor ST Spendor developed a new 180 mm (7") Kevlar composite cone bass driver and a new Spendor 180 mm polymer cone bass-mid driver. Combined with a new wide-surround 29 mm tweeter with bi-elliptical acoustic front plate and damped rear acoustic chambers the result is outstanding sound quality and superb technical performance with good efficiency and high power handling. The clarity, focus, purity and dynamics of this new design are exceptional. NEWS RELEASE 1/10/09 Audience, LLC, an award-winning designer and manufacturer of high and ultra high resolution audio system products, today announced the release of a 3" full range loudspeaker driver. The Audience A3 is a breakthrough full range loudspeaker driver design comprised of a patented motor structure, patent-pending suspension and patent pending basket. The A3 has an exceptionally flat response from 40Hz to 22Khz, and -20 at 20Hz with very high power handling and dynamic range. The A3 is built like a high power sub woofer driver using a large neodymium motor structure, big voice coil and suspension venting. The A3 is ultra responsive at 2.5 grams total moving mass providing state of the art resolution and dynamic range. The A3 sports 12mm of usable excursion with less than 1 dB compression at levels up to 95 dB SPL. The A3 is currently available in 16ohm and soon to be available in 4ohm and 8ohms and is being offered to dealers, OEM users and DIY enthusiasts. $170 MSRP. www.audience-av.com NEWS RELEASE 12/10/08 Joule Electra is introducing a new preamp, Marianne Electra Memorial Preamp LA-300ME ($14,800). The LA-300ME incorporates all the features that have made the LA series of preamps the most sought after preamp in Hi End Audio. This preamp is in memoriam to the Co-founder of Joule Electra, Marianne Electra Barber who passed away after a long illness in May a year ago. The new preamp is a highly refined version of the LA-150 which incorporates exotic capacitors through out and signal wiring designed specifically for Joule Electra by well known cable designer David Elrod of Elrod Power Systems. The signal wiring combines a combination of 6 nines silver and copper in a unique transmission line configuration that David has just developed for his premier interconnects. The capacitors are a mix of V-Caps and Mundorf Silver, Gold and Oil which represents the very best capacitors available to the High End Audio Community.
These auditions represent a major cost addition and based on the sonic splendor of the new preamp the cost is well justified. The bass line of the preamp has always been one of it's major assets, but now the bass is crisper and cleaner with improved dynamics and extension. The midrange, one of the outstanding features of the LA-150 is now wonderfully fleshed out with a highly organic nature that must be experienced to fully appreciate. The improvement in treble extension and clarity is immediately noticeable with silky highs possessing the gloss and crispness of the original performance.
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