| February 2010: Pyramid from Taiwan - The Music HiFi Orpheus is a headphone amplifier with separate but docking power supply, two line-level inputs and USB. The styling suggests the older Nagra monos, the Las Vegas pyramid and of course the originals in Egypt while the name suggestively recalls the legendary Orpheus electrostatic headphones. Output power is 0.5 watts, headphone impedance may be 16 - 1000 ohms, claimed bandwidth is 20Hz to 30kHz and the tube complement is 1 x 12 AU7 and 2 x 5687. The amp measures 250mm high and has a footprint of 245 x 245mm. Weight is 5kg.
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| February 2010: Chinese USB DAC - Shanling's DAC-50 has coaxial, balanced and USB digital inputs, a coaxial digital output and RCA/XLR analog outputs plus a variable headphone jack.
D/A conversion is performed by a Burr-Brown PCM1796 DAC chip with a Cirrus Logic CS8416 digital audio receiver and Burr-Brown SRC4192 upsampler with selectable 96/192kHz upsampling or none. There's a
high precision clock system with reclock function, a dimmable display and full-function remote. Output voltage is 2.1/4.2V on RCA/XLR respectively.
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| Februrary 2010: New MBL contact in US -
Berlin-based high-end audio specialist MBL Akustikgeräte GmbH & Co. is reshaping its
distribution system. On February 1, 2010, distribution rights for the US, Canada and Mexico were entrusted to GTT Distribution Inc. of New Jersey with a view to intensifying market cultivation
and improving customer service. MBL has high hopes for the new partnership.
| "GTT’s declared
aim is to widen the network of certified dealers while developing a new approach to the cooperation
with them. Working trustfully together in a manner profitable to both sides we want to
intensify our market presence, thus offering our customers the quality of service they have a right
to expect when buying a high end MBL product", said GTT’s managing director Bill Parish.
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| February 2010: Entreq's Streamer Pro solution - Per Olof of Swedish cable firm Entreq states that "we do not feel that the great sound quality of the HRT Music Streamer Pro benefits from the use of adapters. Instead we have developed Tiny Path with TiniQ XLR and XLR connectors to let you enjoy the full potential of the HRT Music Streamer PRO. It's a real improvement compared to the use of adapters. Like our other cables it has EEDS for that dark and quiet background that has become our trademark. We also will introduce a setup with XLR cables and wood housings at the end of February."
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January 2010: Stereolab - The Signal Collection LLC specialty distributor of fine audio equipment and manufacturer of audiophile cables announced today that it will no longer be using the Stereovox moniker due to issues surrounding that trademark and has adopted use of the name Stereolab™ in its place. Under the Stereolab umbrella, TSC will continue to manufacture audiophile cables designed by Chris Sommovigo under several categories:
| The Studio: A "performance first" approach using tubular copper, Mil-Spec silver-plated copper and low-density PTFE dielectrics.
The Reference: State of the Art cable designs that employ custom silver and silver-plated copper conductors in low density PTFE dielectrics.
Tombo: Limited-Edition artisan-grade cables.
The Dragon: No-holds-barred reference cables for the ultra-reference system. |
| January 2010: Norwegian army knife - Hegel's new H70 integrated is a 2 x 70wpc proposition with 3 x RCA, 1 x XLR, USB and coxial or Toslink digital inputs. The amplifier is based on Hegel's patented SoundEngine circuit and specs include an S/N ratio of better than 100dB and damping factor of better than 1000.
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| January 2010: Cooler than cool - Sieben's all-metal iDock with USB charge input and RCA fixed analog outputs and one video output bypasses the iPod's volume control for superior sound. The industrial design is what B&O would have done - hadn't the Aussies gotten there first. The Gen 2 Sieben dock is compatible with all iPods and the iTouch but not the iPhone. Seeing is wanting? Sure looks that way... |
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January 2010: Audio-Technica iDock headphone amp - The AT-HA35i is an iDock with built-in D/A converter, a headphone amplifier, coax S/PDIF, S-video and analog outputs and a credit-card remote. The power supply is a 15V wall wart. Pricing is ¥50.400 or about €500. The headphone output offers up to 440mW x 2 into 16Ω, 250mW into 32Ω, 125mW into 64Ω and 25mW into 300. Dimensions are 105 x 135 x 44mm and weight is 485g. The variable line output is 2Vrms. This product seems currently poised for the Japanese market only.
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| January 2010 - 108dB - The German Voxativ AC-X widebander uses a goat leather surround and field coil motor in a carbon-free steel housing with additional Permendur plates. The AC-X has a Qts between 0.25 and 0.6 contingent on the supply voltage which can be set from 6 to 18 volts. Technical data include max 108dB sensitivity, 8mm Xmass and a resonant frequency of 29.12Hz. For more details, refer to the website. |
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| January 2010: Rithm drops price - US importer Chris Sommovigo announces that "Paul Schenkel, designer and CEO of Davone Audio in Denmark as a result of some economies of scale has made a drastic reduction in price to us such that we will be able to offer the Davone Rithm at a retail price of $3,995/pr. This represents a price that is more than $1,500 lower than the original and certainly re-categorizes the speaker. Davone has elected to discontinue the Oak and Black color options because the Walnut version was the only one people loved. Davone is positioning to also sell the Rithm in an unfinished wood, which would allow the dealer or client to have the cabinet finished in any number of custom stains, dyes, paints etc." |
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| January 2010: Allnic M3000s - Global marketing manager and US/Canadian Allnic distributor David Beetles of Hammertone Audio announces availability of the newest amplifier creation of Kang Su Park, the 140-watt 4 x KT88 M3000 monos. Available in black or silver, retail price is $12.900 for the pair. Weight is 90 lbs net each, triode power 60 watts. Warranty is 2 year transferable on the electronics, 1 year on the tubes. All signal-path transformers are custom Permalloy nickel units as is MO for Allnic Audio Labs. |
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| January 2010: Cardas to the rescue - Home audio users of Kevin Halverson's new High Resolution Technologies Music Streamer Pro who were stumped by its pro-arena TiniQG outputs now have an elegant solution in the Cardas adapters which terminate in either RCA or full-size XLR. The Pro's full-scale output is 4.5V, i.e. twice that of the standard Streamer and Streamer Plus to conform to professional standards. |
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January 2010: Croatian OTL - Croatian high-end tube audio manufacturer Sound Carrier releases the Attaca [€5.500] which delivers a healthy 100wpc from 12 x PL519 tubes without an output transformer. Driver and preamp tubes are
ECC82 and ECC83. Claimed frequency response is 4.5Hz - 56kHz, dimensions are 440 x 440 x 250mm (WxDxH) and weight is 28.4kg.
Sound Carrier has also proudly announced that new push-pull 300B monoblocks will be available very soon.
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January 2010: Onix DAC - The new Onix DAC25 upsampling DAC features:
1. 24bit/192KHz high precision DAC chip
2. Asynchronous sampling chip to raise frequency at 192KHz for lower jitter
3. High-precision clock system, with reclock function and reduced error correction requirements
4. USB input for PC audio
5. Digital input pulse transformer for isolation
6. Balanced analog output
7. Headphone output
8. Dynamic range: (24bit) > 120dB
9. S/N ratio: > 112dB(RCA); > 125dB(XLR)
10. THD+N: < 0.001%(20Hz-20KHz)
11. Max output voltage: 2VRMS
12. PCM2704 as USB receiver
13. PCM1792 24bit/192KHz converter chip
14. SRC4192 upsamping chip
15. 3 x OPA2134 op-amps
16. CS8416 digital receiver chip
17. R style power transformer |
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January 2010: turntables.lt - A reader provided this background: "Turntables.lt is a small company owned between friends and with only 5 employees, however its
history and development are quite interesting.
One of its co-owners, Mr. Vidmantas Triukas, is a radio engineer who has
worked with hifi equipment field since 1985.
He was a passionate audiophile well before that time, however his actual
work was more rocket science. He was working in the scientific acoustic and ultrasound area researching acoustical noise of
plasma on the surface of extremely fast moving objects (missiles and
rockets in particular) and has three patented inventions in this field.
"In the Soviet Union one could not hold a privately owned
company (one could research and build various equipment as an
enthusiast but not make a profit). In 1987 however
Vidmantas and a few friends built an audio set of turntable, speakers and amplifier and presented it in the
USSR’s largest technical achievement trade show in Moscow. For various
innovations (automatic turntable motor speed tuning, amp with very low
linear distortions etc.) it was awarded a bronze medal in the audio
equipment category.
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"In 2007 he and Mr. Jonas
Jakutis, another hifi enthusiast, designer and radio engineer who co-authored five patented invention in ultrasound research and plays the saxophone, started their audio business and today offer a very special turntable." |
| January 2010: From Barcelona with speaker love - ADN Acoustics believes to have invented a novel form of dealing with loudspeaker drive unit rear emissions inside an enclosure. Not unlike Eventus from Italy which runs heavily corrugated inner surfaces, ADN presents the internal sound waves with deeply carved surfaces that look like acoustical treatments - except theirs are all crafted of metal. A line of speakers called Innova Series is expected soon to demonstrate this approach in action. |
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January 2010: Moscode refinement - Moscode has released the new Moscode 402Au amplifie. featuring gold-plated circuit paths, "taking the place of the 401HR and featuring performance and cosmetic refinements that raise the bar for all amplification.
The Moscode 402Au is a power house conservatively rated at 200wpc into 8 ohms and 325wpc into 4. Distortion levels are typically under 0.15% at full output. The noise floor is now even lower than before for an even quieter background." |
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| January 2010 - New Japanese 300B - The Takatsuki TA-300B [¥80.000/pr] is a current production 300B with a filament voltage of 5, max plate voltage of 400V, max plate current of 100mA and max plate dissipation of 40W. It joins the new Snyergy Hifi valve collaboration with Shuguang as a bona fide new entrant in this sector. These are exciting times for SET fanciers. |
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| January 2010 - New Chinese 300B - The Create Audio / Synergy Hifi 300B [$200/ea.] is a joint project between Hong Kong-based Synergy Hifi and Shuguang. Synergy Hifi provides the nano alloy internal structure with carbon-oxide-compound coating, Shuguang handles manufacture of the fully assembled tube which features gold-plated pins, a ceramic socket and uncoated quartz glass envelope. The Synergy Hifi contributions are exclusive to their tubes and not available with regular Shuguang issue. At present, Synergy's valve range includes 12AX7, 12AU7, 12AT7, 6SN7, 300B, 6550, 845, EL34 and EL84. |
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| January 2010 - Pure eco, no echo: Behind this tag line are Emelie Fras and her brother Philips Granqvist offering "beautiful acoustic treatment products that are healthy to the environment and user". Their first product is an all-organic acoustic panel. |
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January 2010 - Trends PSU - ITOK Media Limited's Trends Audio brand launched their first power supply. The PW-10 PSU [$199] is a transformer-based linear power supply for three audio appliances including the Trends TA-10 amplifier, PA-10 tube headphone/preamplifier, UD-10 USB DAC or any Trends combo package.
"As we know, transformer-based power supplies provide stable output voltages, low noise and low output voltage ripple." Parts include ultra-fast ON Semiconductor MUR420 and MUR120 rectifiers; Rubycon's top MCZ series and Sanyo OS-CON capacitors for ultrasonic digital filtering and Nippon Chem's high-end capacitors for analog." There are National Semiconductor LM-317A and LM1084 linear power regulators and high-quality EMI noise filters.
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January 2010 - Upmarket April - Korea's April Music follows up their introduction of the Ai500 and CDA500 components with the Eximus CD5 [$9.000] which runs Philip's best CD-PRO 2LF transport and offers an array of digital i/o ports including coax, 2 x optical and USB in and coax, optical and AES/EBU out. Analog outputs are on both RCA and XLR. Dynamic range is specificed as 120dB, frequency response as 10Hz - 55kHz and upsampling to 48/96kHz is selectable and defeatable.
The cosmetic design called for only 8 controls, four on the front, four on the top. The CD5 premiered at CES 2010.
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January 2010 - British hybrid - AMR announces the launch of its AM-777 Pre-Main Amplifier [€2.999] whose "sonic heart beats like a seductive SET. The musical synergy is founded upon unconventional valve/bipolar devices, a dedicated transparent volume control and thorough power supply sections. The AM-777’s on-board USB DAC allows it to serve as a computer audio source. These aspects along with the fact that more than one AM-777 may be connected for bi-amp or monoblock configurations, represent the next level of evolution for the amplifier."
The circuit combines a valve-based zero feedback voltage gain stage with a bipolar output buffer for current gain.
Output power is 60wpc into 8 and 4 ohms and there is an 380VA toroidal power transformer for the output stage and a 32VA EI transformer for the valve section. The remote volume control offers 71 x 1dB steps. The USB DAC reclocks the incoming signal and uses the same high-quality components as the CD-777. |
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| January 2010 - German music mosh - The World of Hifi in Hannover/Germany celebrates its 50th anniversary with an opportunity to listen to ten different 30-minute controlled demos over two days, on systems from €1.600 to €100.000 manned by mostly enthusiasts to avoid promoting any specific brands. The event is intended to offer opportunities to hear well-matched systems at diverse price points and takes place January 23 and 24 at the Hannover Congress Centrum on the
Theodor-Heus-Platz 1-3 and a day pass is €5. This event is supported by the HighEnd Society, organizers of the Munich and Zürich shows, and Stereo magazine. |
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| January 2010 - Qute - Naim Audio launches UnitiQute [$2.000, £1.350] as a smaller more compact all-in-one system than the NaimUniti. "The UnitiQute is the first high-end remote controlled all-in-one 30wpc audio player to offer so many sources: FM & Internet Radio (plus DAB in supporting markets), MP3/iPod (authenticated digital iPod connection), streamed audio and USB. Key to UnitiQute is its digital audio streaming capabilities. UnitiQute can wirelessly stream music stored on UPnP™ networked devices, providing access to even more music including increasingly popular hi-resolution 24/96 WAV or FLAC files. With its onboard 24bit/192kHz Wolfson DAC, UnitiQute is the ultimate audio source hub able to interface with digital audio sources such as computers and gaming consoles and the latest TVs. UnitiQute combines proven analogue engineering derived from the NAIT 5i integrated amplifier with a large linear power supply, non-magnetic materials to reduce eddy currents significantly and top fit and finish. The front panel sports a USB input for iPod/MP3 players or USB memory stick playback, charging and content display; a 3.5mm input for both analog and digital sources; and a 3.5mm headphone input. Back panel connectivity includes analog i/o ports, four digital inputs, Ethernet and WiFi. There is a switchable bass contour for low-volume listening and bass management for sub/sat system. |
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| January 2010 - New Weiss - The DAC202 [$6.440] is the latest Weiss 24bit/192kHz firewire converter. It has a completely new D/A converter and analog output stages versus the Minerva, with wo converters per channel to improve S/N ratio. Firewire connection provides internal master clock mode for computer audio files and ideal dejittering regardless of AES, SPDIF, Toslink or Firewire input.
A defeatable level control offers 4 coarse relay settings in the analog domain and fine settings via rotary encoder in the digital domain. Independent from the main outputs, this volume control also operates for the headphone output. Word sync i/o ports are carried on BNC. The front panel display confirms sampling rate, input source, audio level, absolute phase, upsampling filter type and various sub menu data including a transparency check for bit transparency of the playback chain, analog-domain coarse level trim, single/dual wire selection for 176.4/192kHz sampling rates and display brightness. |
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January 2010 - Amadis - The Verity design team is delighted to introduce the latest in its new series of higher-sensitivity loudspeaker designs: the Amadis. "Occupying a place in the product line just above our legacy product, the Parsifal Ovation, this two-cabinet three-way design uses new custom 6" midrange and 9.5" woofer drive units, the new Neo-dome tweeter first used in our Leonore, a new crossover topology and the refined industrial desgin from our latest offerings. Amadis is a nominal 8-ohm load and features a generous 93dB 1w/1m sensitivity rating, making it an agreeable load for many amplifier topologies."
- Efficiency of 9dB @ 2.83 Vrms & 1meter on axis.
- Bandwidth of 20 Hz to 50,000 Hz;
- Resonance free, pure neo-ring soft dome tweeter;
- Superb proprietary 5-inch (127 mm) midrange;
- Superb proprietary 10-inch (254 mm) woofer;
- Verity Audio rear woofer configuration for extreme definition down to the lowest octaves.
- Wide amplification selection starting from 18 watts up to unlimited power;
- Bi-wirable and bi-amplifiable;
- Beautifully crafted and finished with exquisite Italian lacquer;
- Nicely packed and delivered in deluxe Air Transportation Approved metal cases.
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| January 2010 - Clayton Shaw strikes again - The designer of Emerald Physics launches the Spatial Computer site which packages custom software with Apogee Duet, Ensemble or Prism Sound Orpheus Firewire DACs with analog volume controls. Spatial offers "recording studio-grade correction for speaker amplitude/phase response and room anomalies and performs the correction directly on the music files via software. Multiple target curves allow for comprehensive room and speaker correction and will be remote-configured for each customer." The site's three price-tiered solutions naturally are also tailor-made to become the digital crossovers for Shaw's own Emerald Physics open-baffle speakers. |
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| January 2010 - Raysonic Audio high-power mono - The Raysonic Reference 23 [$9.900/pr] is a 8 x KT88 class AB1 push/pull mono for 100 watts of triode-strapped output power. The 12AX7 phase splitters are cathode-coupled, the signal/driver tube is a 6J30 and all signal paths are hand-wired point-to-point. Parts include Philip HP and Mundorf MCap Supreme silver/gold oil-filled capacitors; WBT RCA and XLR sockets and speaker terminals; and Kimber Kable for hookup wiring. The output transformer is a C-core affair, the power transformer a toroid with dedicated secondaries for the tube heaters. The brushed and anodized aluminum chassis is available in black or silver. Frequency response is 7Hz to 60kHz -1dB, S/N ratio better than 103dB, THD <0.05%, input sensitivity a low 2.5V and input impedance 100/200KΩ on RCA/XLR respectively. Power consumption is 350 watts, dimensions are 53.1 x 34 x 26.2" DxWxH and weight is 35kg ea.
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January 2010 - Complete hi-tech system in three easy pieces - Thiel Audio and Olive have announced the introduction of the Olive+Thiel HD Music System [$7.900] Combining proprietary versions of the groundbreaking Olive 4HD music server (modified for digital HD multi-room music streaming via proprietary 32-bit DSP-based IP technology and a 4-port gigabit Ethernet switch) with Thiel's SCS4 IP-based loudspeakers, this 2TB solution can store 6,000 CDs or 20,000 24-bit HD music tracks in lossless quality. A built-in touch-screen LCD allows users to find and play their music with ease, and an iPhone™ app allows an iPhone™ or iPod® touch to act as a remote. Music can be easily copied to the hard drive via the built-in CDRW drive (which can in turn burn playlists for the car) or from a networked computer (either PC or Mac).
There is also an HDMI interface allowing for connection to a TV and analog and USB digital audio inputs to allow streaming from additional music sources such as television, satellite radio or computer. The Olive 4HD connects to each SCS4D speaker via simple Ethernet cables, enabling easy connectivity anywhere within a home network. No additional equipment or expensive audio cables are required. The SCS4D speakers are based on the SCS4, a time and phase coherent 6.5" bookshelf-sized two-way speaker that can be placed either upright or sideways with no detrimental effect on sound quality. |
The SCS4D features a die-cast aluminum baffle and robust cabinet construction with ample internal bracing to reduce enclosure resonances. For the Olive+Thiel HD Music System, Thiel modified the SCS4 to include Thiel zöet proprietary IP-technology which eliminates latency issues that typically plague network-connected systems. Additionally, there is an ultra-high performance BB 1792A-based mono DAC and a 200-watt class D amplifier inside each speaker. |
| January 2010 - Passed Out - The Pass Labs XP-25 [$10.600] features new circuitry designs, a second chassis for a separate power supply and a front panel with rotary switches to select gain, loading and cartridge type. It’s ideal for use with both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges "and presents in performance a new dimension of dynamics, inner detail and spectral richness with a very low noise floor and a more expansive soundstage than previous Pass Labs phono stages. Developed by Nelson Pass’ Co-designer Wayne Colburn, the XP-25 is a larger, higher performance sibling to Pass Labs’ XP-15 , which followed Pass Labs’ award-winning X-ono phono-stage. The XP-25 also boasts adjustable gain, two separate inputs, a low-cut filter, mute and resistive and capacitive loading on the front panel for easy access. Its twin chassis of brushed aluminum each measure 17 x 12 x 4" WxDxH anda total 55 pounds in weight. |
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| January 2010 - Luxo - Luxman announce the new D-38u CD player [$3.990] in a classical rectangular wooden case that matches the SQ-38u vacuum tube integrated amplifier. "In addition to the Burr-Brown 192kHz/24bit PCM1754 converter, the circuitry includes a high-purity low-noise solid-state output and an enchanting vacuum tube output to which a moderate harmonic component is added by means of a cathode follower circuit implemented by ECC82/12AU7) vacuum tubes and an output selection switch that allows switching between these circuits. The D-38u, the first in a series of CD players bearing the Luxman legacy golden number '38', combines warm sound quality with expandability and the sophisticated functions expected of a new model such as headphone jack with its own volume control, accessible from the front panel."
Also new is the integrated amplifier L-507u [$6.990] equipped with Luxman's original high-quality ODNF feedback circuit in its latest upgraded version 3.0 and delivering a rated class AB output of 200wpc into 4 ohms. |
"Luxman currently offers a 4-product lineup of solid state integrated amplifiers from the L-505u entry model to the L-509u flagship model. But between the pure class A 20wpc L-550All and 30wpc L-590All, we had nothing. The new unit offers a wide range of functions including a one-touch separation switch of the preamplifier and power sections." |
| January 2010 - Go active! - PMC introduces its new AML2, successor to
the AML1 which "obtained international acclaim as one of the best compact active loudspeakers available. The true analogue circuitry design of the amplifier offered unsurpassed performance via the custom PMC series flat Nomex 6-inch mid/woofer and the ultra powerful 32mm tweeter fitted with wide angle dispersion.
The new AML2 takes the design further with newly introduced micro-engineered EQ tilt circuitry, enhanced power supply layouts, revised cabinet structure with additional damping and subtly revised cosmetics.
This no-compromise design offers performance that cannot be matched by any other speaker of similar size and volume." |
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| January 2010 - New moon - The new simaudio Moon 750D DAC/transport [$12.000] "features the most advanced digital technology, the first true 32-bit fully asynchronous digital audio playback system to reach the marketplace. The 750D is a fully balanced differential design featuring our new asynchronous jitter elimination system built around the ESS Sabre32 DAC. The conversion process uses 8 DACs per channel working in 32-bit Hyperstream™.
A complete array of digital input and output connections are available on the back panel which meet all the needs of today’s ever-widening technologies; the built-in transport |
mechanism represents the fifth input. In the coming months, an optional outboard power supply will be made available to further enhance the performance of the 750D." |
January 2010 - Vitus phono - Vitus Audio introduces the $60.000 Masterpiece Series MP-P201 phono stage with RCA and XLR i/o ports. The RIAA section topology is fully balanced from input and output and non-balanced signals are first converted. "All active gain stages are modular and shielded for lowest possible noise.
RIAA correction is 100% discrete and based on shunt filter topology to avoid signal path capacitors. The
subsonic filter capacitor is a top-line copper Danish Duelund Coherent unit (silver available on request).
A total of seven extra stages of voltage regulation arrive at a total of 13 per rail per channel.
Load resistance can be adjusted via the RC-010 remote control. Gain is set based on the output voltage from the external power supply which is also controlled from the remote.
Settings are individual for each input.
The PSU topology includes mains filtering and general noise reduction. It uses one transformer for all logic/digital control circuits; separate 3-stage voltage regulation for all logic/digital control circuits; one custom ultra low-noise
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shielded 200VA transformer per channel; six stages of voltage regulation for each supply rail per channel (12 steps in total - 6 for the plus and 6 for the minus rail for 24 total stages.)
There are full power off and standby modes." |
January 2010 - More liquid cables -
Audio Magic "is proud to release a cable series where the main conductor is a conductive liquid polymer. With this
type of conductor, these cables are not affected by the kind of ringing you get in metal-based conductors from room vibrations, static discharge etc. What you do get
is a quiet and very neutral cable with a bigger and deeper
soundstage, more air around the performers, more detail, dynamics and realism. We have been working on the patented conductive polymers for 8 years. Evaporation in a sealed environment is no issue for at least 100 years as our supplier confirms. Also, the polymer is non-toxic, temperature invariant under home conditions and cryo treatment is not necessary and will actually
damage the cable. We presently have 4 levels of liquid air cables:
1. Liquid Air - 1/8" liquid polymer conductor for the hot, silver shield
for the return. 19pf per ft., 0.18ohms per 8 ft. length. Analog and digital interconnects only.
Standard grade conductive polymer.
2. Sorcerer Liquid Air - 5/16" liquid polymer conductor for the hot,
silver return. 18pf per ft., 0.18 ohms per 8ft. length. Interconnects, digital, power cord, speaker cable. Type 2 conductive polymer.
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3. Illusion Liquid Air - 5/16" liquid polymer conductor for the hot,
OFC copper litz for the return. 18pf per ft., 0.18 ohms per 8 ft. run. Interconnects, digital, power cord,sSpeaker cable. Type 3 conductive polymer.
4. Clairvoyant Liquid Air - 1/8" liquid polymer used for the hot and return. 17pf per ft., 0.18 ohms per 8 ft. run. Interconnects, digital, power cord, speaker cable. Premium conductive polymer." |
January 2010 - Coltrane getz it - Marten Design announces two new models. "The Heritage Getz fills the gap between the Miles 3 and Bird models in the Heritage series and completes the series. This three-way employs a 1-inch ceramic tweeter, 7-inch ceramic midrange and 9-inch woofer all from Accuton. The woofer is supplemented by a newly developed passive radiator also from Accuton. Frequency response is 30-40,000Hz. Projected retail price is $20,000/pr. Available finishes include walnut, cherry, maple, and black all in piano lacquer.
"The Coltrane Momento completes
Marten’s Coltrane series. The Momento is a three-way
with four 9-inch ceramic woofers, four
9-inch passive radiators and one 7-inch ceramic midrange
driver all from Accuton; plus a 1-inch diamond tweeter
from Jantzen Audio. The body of the cabinet is made of
20mm carbon fibre laminate while the front, back, top and
bottom are made of 30mm solid wood. The stands are made
of polished stainless steel with carbon fibre pucks and cones by Black Diamond Racing.
Projected retail price is $165,000/pr. Available finishes are piano
black sides with oak, maple, cherry or walnut wood panels." |
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January 2010 - MF - "The new Antony Michaelson Signature series applies class-A bias to the Titan circuit in a continuation of Musical Fidelity's tradition of innovation. The AMS Series features the new state-of- the-art 14 tube Primo preamplifier, the 143 pound 50wpc AMS50 power amplifier, the 35wpc AMS35i integrated amplifier and the 24bit/192kHz upsampling AMSCD CD player/DAC.
"With casework machined from solid aluminum, custom-extruded heatsinks and premium-quality connectors, parts, and switches, every detail comes together to make the AMS Series the most refined well-built product ever to be produced by Musical Fidelity.
Joining later in 2010 will be the 100wpc AMS-100 with independent bifilar chokes and power transformers per phase per channel." |
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January 2010 - Ra's speaker - Trenner & Friedl celebrate 15 years with "the new 94dB sensitivity RA-Box to, for the first time, have a loudspeaker system in the stable that is capable of blasting through previous dynamic limitations even with an 8-watt amplifier." The RA Box uses a golden-ratio multiplex Birch Ply enclosure, select veneers, sheep's wool filler and a paper membrane impregnated with six layers of balsamic Italian oil lacquer. Crossover components are Mundorf silver-in-oil caps, foil coils and high-grade MOX resistors, with speaker terminals by Cardas. The RA Box sells for €16,000/pr.
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December 2009 - Virtuous again - Seth Krinsky writes that "here's an impulse buy that won't break any New Year's resolutions.
Virtue Audio is celebrating the relaunch of their 87wpc soda-can sized
integrated amplifier with a $299 pre-order special on the ONE.2 through
January 15th. It upholds and
elevates its namesake's standard for musicality, power, workmanship and
value. The amp can draw over 7A of current and improvements for 2010 include
soft-start support for high-current linear and off-the-grid battery supplies such as the Red Wine Audio's Black Lightning, a smooth
and precise stepped attenuator (unheard of at this price point!) and a
jumper-configurable 80hz high-pass filter to optimize subwoofer
integration. The tactile and reaffirming Propeller Posts™ have been more
conveniently aligned and the all-aluminum and chrome hardware remains
as a guiltless pleasure. If you missed out on the quickly
sold-out 2009 production, now is your chance. MSRP on the Virtue ONE.2 is $369 with the standard 24v/65w power supply."
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December 2009 - Nordic vibes - Electrocompaniet introduces three new products. The Maestro is "an all-in-one audio-video system with Blu-ray and lots of new features, the Prelude BR-1 is our first Blu-ray player and we launch the Nordic Tone Model One, the first reference speaker from Electrocompaniet.
"The Maestro combines 35 years of experience in making the best audio systems with the newest video and streaming technology. In addition to a Blu-ray drive, the unit offers audio/video streaming, Internet radio and a FM tuner. Options like an iPod docking station and DAB/HD radio are available. For power there is an integrated amplifier delivering 120 watts into three channels while an optional 2 x 75 watts rear amplifier can be wirelessly connected via radio-frequency link. |
"All of these features are packed in a compact unit with a modern design, an aluminum cabinet and various optional colors." |
| December 2009 - Game changer? - The new iDecco from Peachtree Audio is said to be "the first integrated amplifier that has a built-in iPod dock 'hardwired' directly to the on-board ESS Sabre DAC. Not only can you hook up your computer, Sonos and Apple TV but now the iPod can perform as good or better than your CD player. When you consider the class A headphone amp, pre out, fixed out, USB, Coax, Optical and analog inputs, it's pretty hard to best the iDecco." |
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December 2009 - New Cary - Following the success of the 303 line of CD players, the new Cary Audio Design CD 303T SACD Professional Version "includes the latest in SACD, HDCD and CD playback technology. HDCD decoding is accomplished using the absolute latest available software. For resolution greater than every other machine in its class, the CD 303T’s internal word clock frequency has been raised from 11.2896MHz to 22.5792MHz during SACD playback.
"A new aluminum loader tray modeled after that of the CD 306 Professional Version adds elegance and greater disc handling care. Four Burr Brown 1792u D/A converter chips run in true balanced parallel offering extremely low jitter. |
"The master clock jitter is below measurable levels utilizing a digital buffer circuit. The data stream is stored in RAM buffer circuits before being released for D/A conversion. The new CD 303T will upsample a Redbook CD disc from 44.1kHz to 96, 192, 384, 512 or 768kHz .
The USB input handles files up to 24/192. Weight for this machine is 34 lbs, dimensions are 5" H x 18" W x 15" D and the sell price is $6.500." |
| December 2009 - The world's best small speaker? - YG Acoustics is proud to announce the arrival of its newest model, the Carmel. "In times when "manufacturing efficiency" is such an important key to performance, YG Acoustics sets a new standard in price and performance. YG Acoustics has been producing fully machined all-aluminum speakers for nearly 8 years now. At $18.000/pr, the new Carmel not only boasts a fully CNC-machined all-aircraft aluminum enclosure but also offers technological features unheard of at this price. The Carmel not only represents the current industry standard of machining efficiency but provides the benchmark for sound quality in a new price category.
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"This include 4-axis milling technology instead of the common 3 axes, precision CNC-ground and hardened enclosure panels and incredible machining accuracy (YG Acoustics’ tolerance is +/-0.0008”). The new Carmel is a floorstanding passive 2-way speaker utilizing a 7-inch woofer and the tweeter from YG Acoustics’ Kipod loudspeaker. The Carmel was created using YG Acoustics’ proprietary Dual Coherence crossover technology. The crossover uses the same ultra high quality Mundorf crossover components as all YG Acoustics designs. Frequency response is specified as 35Hz to 40kHz with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms." |
| December - Jinroism - Audio Note U.K. announces the debut of the Jinro, a class A 211-equipped single-ended integrated amplifier producing 27 watts per channel. It utilizes a 5687 input valve which drives a 1:2 copper transformer on a double HiB C-core. Other components include Beyschlag resistors, copper double HiB C-core output transformers, 2 x NOS 5R4WGB rectifiers and a HiB double C-core mains transformer. All transformers are of course designed and manufactured in-house by Audio Note U.K. |
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| December 2009 - Lindemann News - Managing director Elisabeth Junker announces their new 825 Disc Player with 384kHz upsampling using Anagram's Q5 upsampling and sonic scrambling architecture, proprietary minimum phase filtering with apodizing characteristic for perfect impulse response and the latest generation dual differential DACs. Single-stage balanced current feedback amplifiers with extremely low distortion exhibit perfect time domain behavior. 3 inputs, 2 outputs, a slope function for external DSP devices and a bi-directional USB audio interface for data transfer to and from PC make up the connection options while an external SMPS provides power. |
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| December 2009 - Hybrid pre from Germany - The Accustic Arts Tube Preamp II from their reference line is a fully balanced design from input to output whose "tube hybrid" approach nets "very high impedance and bandwidth". The class A output stage "uses studio engineering technology" and components include Burr Brown OPA 627 operational amps and relays. The tube stage is made up of four military 7025 (12AX7 or ECC83 substitute). Connectivity includes 3 x XLR and 2 x RCA inputs and 2 x XLR and 1 x RCA outputs. The unit is fully remote-controlled, the enclosure is massive aluminum and finish options are black or silver. |
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| December 2009 - True overtones? - Adrian of
TrueHarmonix in Renton/Washington State announces a completely revised website with new pages on the Bewitch line of tube electronics. The sn3008 preamplifier shown combines a 300B with a 6922, 12AX7 and four 12AU7 and sports three line-level inputs, two pre-outs each on RCA and XLR, 19dB of gain and a net weight of 44lbs.
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December 2009 - New Accuton drivers - "With CVD diamond and alpha corundum ceramics we have already two of the very best membrane materials on earth, so why search for a new one?
Let's summarize it: CVD diamond is definitely the best material available. Its stiffness to weight ratio is unsurpassed, the internal sound velocity unrivaled. However, until today we can only make tweeter and small midrange units as cost and serious technical problems prevent the manufacturing of larger cones. It is quite similar with ceramic domes which are second to and almost as good as diamond but also restricted in size. The largest dome we can feasibly produce is a 160mm dome for the C220 series.
"Doing research for larger bass cone, we found some interesting results. Laser scans of moving membranes taught us that the voice coil area is the most critical where deformation is strongest while the outer area is fairly stable (this is however only valid for concave domes like we build, not for different membrane shapes). So we took a special, exclusively made for us white honeycomb membrane and doubled it up with a fitting asymmetrically shaped ceramic dome (to put one and a half year of tedious research into one sentence). Let's look at the benefits: |
- Large cones (up to 15 inch woofers) are economically manufacturable
- Stiffness in the VC area is even better than with a pure ceramic cone
- Outer area has very high damping factor, the unit is easily usable
with a first order passive filter
- The ceramic part of the dome has an asymmetrical (Wankel) shape that kills resonances
- The cone is indestructible even at severe overload
(but remember, you can still burn the voice coil !)
"Bandwith and resolution is almost but not as good as with a ceramic cone but this, after all, is not so important for a pure bass unit." |
December 2009 - More Serbian surprises - NAT Audio announces their new Transmitter amplifier, a pure class A single-ended type with zero global feedback and the unusual feature to switch from "pure direct-heated triode to ultralinear and tetrode mode" and more than 100 watts in triode mode. The output tube is an industrial RTC QB5/1750 with a max dissipation potential of 565 watts of which NAT uses 55-60%. A low-output front panel switch for highly sensitive speakers reduces power from 120 to 30 watts. Input and driver tubes are military-grade NOS 6N1P-VI and 6N30P-DR. The output transformer contains no less than 61 separate layers. Bandwidth is from 8Hz – 100,000Hz. The mains transformer is overbuilt for twice the needed power (over 1000W) with totally silent operation. There are separate voltage regulators for all amplifier stages including the output stage. Energy from the power supply is huge to support bass response down to 20Hz and equal to no less than 8,000 Joules (8kJ) of capacitive storage." Other parts include Teflon military-grade capacitors, 0.1% Vishay resistors, electrolytic capacitors for 105°C working temperature, last-gen IXYS semiconductors, WBT connectors and pure silver input wiring. "Optionally, the Transmitter can be ordered as a fully balanced design utilizing premium Jensen transformers."
Specifications include frequency response from 8Hz to 100kHz -3dB, input impedance of 100K (parallel with 100pF), input sensitivity of 1.5VRMS for 100 watts of output, gain of 26dB, rise time of 3ms, A-weighted S/N of -110dB, dimensions of 300 x 530 x 260mm WxDxH (11.8 x 20.9 x 10.2") and a weight of 212lbs (96kg) in the wooden shipping crate.
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| December 2009 - Cary serves - Long have been the days that Cary Audio was purely about tubes. To demonstrate just how broadly his company has diversified since, Billy Wright will show Cary's first music server at CES 2010 "complete with features like FLAC storage and playback; artist, album, genre, song and album art display; Apple iPhone and iPod touch application for control; SHOUTcast Internet Radio support; 24/96kHz playback over USB; and 1TB of storage." |
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December - Croatian widebander - RingAudio from Croatia at present maintains no website so learning about their FGH model with integral rear-wave dissipator (the triangular cross-section beam behind the speaker) requires getting in touch with Margareta Karadza, their regional sales manager in Zagreb. As she explained, they have been in business for three years operating in Croatia and Austria but began work on speaker R&D some 20 years ago. At present, they are looking to enter the European market with this model.
mob: +385 91 36 46 601
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December 2009 - 106.5dB - The German Voxativ AC3 10.5-ohm widebander sports a surprisingly high sensitivity spec which still sits at 99dB for its 8-ohm version. Unlike most equivalent Lowthers, this transducer's resonant frequency is at 39Hz for uncommon bandwidth from such a design.
The company not only makes drive units but also turn-key loudspeakers. The rear-hornloaded Aura for example runs a version of the AC3 with leather surround for claimed bandwidth of 38Hz to 20,000Hz while its complex cabinetry is built by the Pianomanufaktur Schimmel of Braunschweig. Refer to the website for details. |
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| December 2009 - Glowing globes - Celebrating 10 years of business in Prague, Jac van de Walle of Emission Labs announces a limited reissue run of the 45 Globe tube he made by special request in 2003. The new stock again features the floating anode system inside the smallest possible glass bulb whereby flexible foil decouples the grid and filament from the envelope to shield this direct-heated triode from mechanical vibrations incurred by amplifier transformers. Once sold out, no more 45 Globes will be produced except for warranty fulfillment. |
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| December 2009 - Cable lifters - Kevin Yarbough of
RhythmiCraft proposes his black urethane resin devices to get signal cables off the ground. A set of two is $30, a set of four $50. |
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December 2009 - Serbia serves - Trafomatic Audio's new remote-controlled Experience Elegance integrated amplifier combines two ECC81 inputs with two ECC82 drivers into four push/pull 6550s for 45wpc of power with a 0.8V input sensitivity, 0.1% THD at 1w/1kHz, 200VA power consumption and frequency response of 10Hz (-1dB) to 55kHz (-3dB).
The company's Experience Line One preamplifier also benefits from the cosmetic revamp across the range and is shown below.
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December 2009 - Higher exposure - Exposure has revamped its entire lineup of products and now introduces the new 2010S2 and 3010S2 ranges. "The 2010S2 integrated amplifier adopts relay switching. This significant change yields a substantial improvement in transparency over the previous version's mechanical switching. A cleaner signal path in the 2010S2 power amplifier results in better sound quality. There is a new tuner available and the entire range is designed to cosmetically match the 3010S2 products so customers can easily and transparently mix components from either series.
"Exposure's midrange 3010S2 products receive more substantial upgrades. A dedicated preamplifier and 100-watt mono amplifiers were added. The preamp is based on Exposure's Classic but receives the new relay input switching. The 3010S2 integrated upgrades its preamp section based on the Classic and new relay input switching while the power amp receives the same improvement as the 2010S2 power amp. The 3010S2 CD player receives improvements to the clock, digital output supply and DAC output. The new 3010S2 monoblocks are based on Exposure's flagship MCX."
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US prices in the 2010S2 series are $1.195 for the CD player, $1.295 for the integrated amplifier, $1.095 for the power amp or tuner and $195 for the phono card. 3010S2 series prices are $2.195 for the CD player or integrated amplifier; $1.395 for the preamplifier, $1.595 for the stereo amplifier, $2.595/pr for the monos and $395 for the phono card. |
December 2009 - Ypsilon - The new VPS-100 phono stage [$26,000]"embodies new concepts of proprietary ideas and circuitry, chief among these a passive RIAA equalization circuit with zero feedbac and tubes in its rectification and amplification stages. The VPS-100 uses a transformer-based inductance-capacitance-resistance (LCR) network instead of the more commonly used CR type for RIAA. The transformer uses a special amorphous C-core material and paper winding insulation.
"The VPS-100’s LCR network uses two gain stages and two T filters. The filters’ 2123Hz pole is formed by an air core inductor, the 50-500Hz pole is formed at a high signal level directly at the output of the second gain stage. The two stages use Siemens C3g tubes specified for 10,000 hours. The power supply includes a 6CA4 tube rectifier and choke filter, a passively regulated DC heater for the tube in the first stage and an AC heater in the second stage. The VPS-100 employs no printed circuit boards andits point-to-point silver wire was specially extruded and annealed by Ypsilon. A custom system mechanically decouples the first gain stage and 2123 pole coils while an aluminum sub-chassis mounted on the aluminum bottom plate creates a very rigid platform.
Key specifications for the 55-pound VPS-100 include a gain of 39dB, a 47k-ohm input impedance, a 200pF input capacitance, an output impedance of 1200 ohms, a frequency response of 10Hz–40kHz –3dB, and an RIAA accuracy of 20Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB.
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December 2009 - Gemme Audio news - For early 2010, Gemme Audio announces its new G Series comprised of 3 models in either Type S or Type R designation. All models share a Peerless coated paper woofer in "pressure load reflex" enclosures. Type S variations feature a top-line Vifa silk ring radiator, Type R are equiped with aluminum ribbon tweeters instead.
"As all Gemme Audio products, the voicing of each speaker is the result of years of experience in 1st-order resistor-less crossover networks using air-core inductors on damped printed circuit boards. Gold-plated brass euro connectors are used and back-mounted flushmount flared ports throughout.
"Enclosures are CNC-machined out of high density fiberboard with internal tenon and mortise bracing. Each model is available in real piano-gloss black or bookmatched Walnut veneer. Bandwidth ranges from 35Hz (G7), 40Hz (G5) and 45Hz (G3) to over 28kHz for all models. Efficiency is 86dB with 2.83 volts input. Prices starts at $895/pr for the G3 Type S in Walnut. Later in the year, a Music subwoofer system will be added."
The photograph shows a G7R on the left and G5R on the right. Also shown is the Type R ribbon with integral heat sink. |
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| December 2009 - iPhone Trends - Media Limited's Trends Audio brand launched their new mini palm-top amplifier TA-10.2, a 15wpc class-T amp for the iPhone. Integrating Tripath's proprietary digital power processing and an audiophile iPhone-to-RCA cable, the Trends TA-10.2 "achieves the sound quality of high-end hifi for the iPhone/iPod.
Thanks to the excellent DAC design in iPhone/iPod's line-out and digital output circuit, the iPhone/iPod becomes a high-end CD transport to work with an external amplifier or preamplifier," marketing director David Ho said. The TA-10.2 supports the iPhone 2G and 3G , the iPod 3 - 5 Gen, the iPod Classic 6 Gen, iPod Mini Gen 1 and 2, iPod Nano Gen 1 - 4 and the iPod Touch Gen 1 and 2. The suggested retail prices with AC power adaptor are $225/$265 for the standard and SE edition respectively.
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| December 2009 - Swiss brains -
Preliminary data: Goldmund of Switzerland presents a 2-channel system which took the company "seven years of painstaking R&D efforts". The Proteus 2-channel system is claimed to be perfectly corrected in the amplitude, phase and time domains. "Based on the Epilogue 1 and Epilogue 2 Signature speaker versions without
passive crossover, the new system uses an application of the famous Proteus acoustic modeling software
developed for the media room to rebuild appropriate crossovers
for the listening position and create
properly phase-aligned response at the ear, an absolute world's first. |
"In addition, the proprietary Goldmund Leonardo Time
Distortion correction mechanism links each driver to its own Goldmund Telos amplifier to provide complete control of the room acoustics.
The Proteus software is exclusive to the new Goldmund
universal preamplifiers, the Mimesis 16 or Mimesis 32, as well as the
Mythos 2 acoustic processor.
Officially available from January 1st 2010, the Proteus 2-channel
software is one of the options provided in the new Goldmund universal configurator available from the website.
The Proteus 2-channel software may be written on special demand for
other speakers with the same benefits." |
| December 2009 - Turkish power cords - Hakan Cezayirli,
Editor of
Stereo Mecmuası in Turkey, reports a first for his country - a domestic
company producing a hifi product! The power cords in question are from 2M Kablo
who "after
high demand from high-end users produced and commenced sales of two types of power cords under Lookab, the registered brand of 2M
Kablo for audio/video cables. 2M Kablo has produced low voltage
cables for the Turkish and foreign markets since 1993. The Lookab Optirius and Prinilius power cords adopt a different
cross section over the typical single
screening layer or foil. In the Lookab Optirius, each
conductor core is sleeved in a seperate copper foil and OFC copper screening. After all
cores are screened individually, they are further shielded by a unifying OFC copper screening layer
under the outer sheath. With three total screening layers, environmental
electromagnetic influences are eliminated." |
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| December 2009 - Mundorf cables - Known particularly for their capacitors and crossover networks, Mundorf has now launched a solid-core cable line called Zendo Cable. Conceptually related to particularly Crystal Cable by using gold-infused silver conductors, pricing for the Zendo Cables starts at €319/pr for the interconnect and €599 for the speaker cables. Terminations are from Furutech. Neutrik and WBT and speaker cable is available in different conductor thicknesses to accommodate different lengths; single wire and biwire; and jumpers. There are no power cords at present. |
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| December 2009 - Wadia's baby brother - Wadia's 151 PowerDAC [$1.190] adopts the enclosure of the popular 171i iPod dock, adds a full Digimaster 24-bit/384kHz upsampling converter with 25/50wpc into 8/4-ohm current buffer and 2 x S/PDIF coax, 1 x Toslink and 1 x USB B-type digital inputs and a large metal remote. Available in silver or black, the 151 plus 171i plus iPod or iPhone make a stylish high-quality desktop or small main system with miniature but top-quality music server (if music files are stored lossless). Wadia explains that all the necessary voltage gain for speaker drive is generated in their converter stage to simplify the circuit and warrant the designation PowerDac. S/N ratio is a spectacular -103dB.
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| December 2009 - Burson head amp - "After much delay, Burson Audio has formally introduced their reference class headamp, the HA-160 [$699]. That’s a pure class A dedicated headphone amplifier free of ICs which instead features Burson's proprietary discrete opamps and a Burson-built 24-step attenuator volume control which only places a single resistor into the signal path regardless of chosen volume level." Specs include an input impedance of 47K, a S/N ratio of 98dB, output power of 650mW at 300 ohms and 800mW at 60 ohms with a power dissipation of less than 10 watts from an internal regulated power supply. Dimensions are 280 x 100 x 41mm and weight is ca. 6kg. |
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| December 2009 - Gryphon Scorpio - Gryphon Audio Designs introduces the Gryphon Scorpio CD player [€6.950]. "By executing the filter function benignly in the digital domain with the same asynchronous 32-bit/192kHz sample rate conversion found in the digital reference standard Gryphon Mikado Signature, the Scorpio achieves extraordinary resolution of fine detail, sharp image focus and extended high-frequency response. In the interest of extracting the purest sound possible, timing issues are addressed with two independent specially designed temperature-compensated crystal oscillators accurate to better than five parts per million. |
"The fine European transport mechanism is specially constructed for silent running and effective vibration damping." |
| December 2009 - New Pass Labs speaker - Pass Laboratories introduces the SR-2 loudspeaker [starting at $18,000/pr], a "high-performance three-way that uses highly efficient Nextel series drivers from Seas of Norway, with each speaker containing a 7-inch midrange driver, a 10.25-inch high-excursion woofer and a 1.1-inch Hexadym™ magnet tweeter.
All the drivers feature very long excursion diaphragms, low mass underhung voice coils and substantial copper faraday rings in the motor assembly to assure very low non-linear distortion, high dynamics, excellent transient response and predictable performance. The speaker offers considerable flexibility in selecting complementary amplifiers and crossovers from totally passive to active quad amplification.
The SR-2 is available in a lustrous Cherry finish and optional finishes of Madrone burl and Ash." |
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December 2009 - Magic Q - "Magico LLC is
proud to announce the unveiling of its newest loudspeaker, the Magico Q5, a 5-driver 4-way floorstander housed in a fully braced fully damped aluminum and brass hard-anodized enclosure [$54,000/pr]. The Q5 is the first Magico product to feature
complete in-house control of all design and build variables.
From the outside, the Q5's form is indicative of its function - pure and simple, rigid
and unbiased. Although not significantly larger than our own V3, its total weight is
nearly 400 lbs. Machined entirely from aluminum and brass at our
new facility, the enclosure achieves a balance of mass and stiffness which had until now been
prohibited by the cost associated with such an undertaking. Processed individually
to ensure coverage of every face and edge, each outer surface is first polished then
finished in our recognizable hard-anodized finish.
"The entire enclosure is an expression of all our past and present functional and
aesthetic design choices.
From the inside, the Q5 reveals the challenges involved in actually designing and
assembling a properly built aluminum enclosure. The coordination between our
engineers, machinists and technicians cannot falter due to the amount of
interdependence between every component. The frame architecture alone is made
from over 50 individually machined parts all of which must be aligned, fastened
and assembled in a particular sequence. A single side wall contains nearly 100
threaded holes and before the baffle is even affixed, the cabinet itself already
contains over 350 fasteners. A variance of greater than .002" can contribute to a 'tolerance stack' large enough to prevent an enclosure from being completed
without being disassembled first. It takes nearly a week to assemble a pair.
"Continuing our pursuit of developing and implementing the world's finest
loudspeaker drivers, we are also proud to introduce a new tweeter, the MBe-1™.
Recent advances in break-up mode control of Beryllium diaphragms combined with
our own MR-1™ motor system led to the development of the MBe-1. The result is a
tweeter with significantly wider extension, lower distortion and greater power
handling. |
"Magico-designed Nano-Tec™ drivers complete the Q5 driver array with
two 9” woofers, a 9” mid-bass unit and a 6” midrange to deliver the full frequency
range. Numerous new developments have been made on other fronts as well,
including a unique Bass Mechanical Resonance Cancellation (BMRC™) system which
allows us to acoustically cancel break-up modes by precisely offsetting the bass
drivers’ acoustical center and angle. Specifications are 88dB
sensitivity, 4-ohm
impedance,
32Hz – 50kHz frequency response, dimensions of
47" H x 21" D x 11.75" and
weight of 387 lbs."
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December 2009 -
Flat HDMI cable - Bluebird Music is pleased to announce immediate availability of the newest AV interconnect from Van den Hul, the HDMI Flat 180, a new high-quality flat-shaped HDMI cable with clever rotating connectors that make connections easy when there's little room behind your equipment.
The VDH HDMI Flat 180 is fully compliant with the 1.4 fast speed standard for lengths up to 32 feet and is warranted to maintain 1080p performance over this length. However the cable offers effortless performance even at 50 foot runs. "With the HDMI standard's enormous digital data throughput of up to 10.2 Gigabits per second, the cable's flat shape reduces crosstalk. The result is a higher signal integrity, especially for larger cable runs. This translates into superb digital video and sound quality. US retail price is $165 for a one meter run plus $25 per additional meter. (CAD is $179 + $25)."
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December 2009 - Einstein preamp - Einstein Audio introduces its The Tube MkII 19-tube preamplifier based on a fully balanced, dual-differential, dual-mono circuit with 18 x E88CC/6922 and 1 x ECC82. "Only 10 of the 6922 operate at any given time, eight for power and two for whichever source has been selected. Whenever an audio source is switched, the tubes for that input turn on and those for all others off. Other features include a volume control outside the signal path, ultra-low 50-ohm output impedance, point-to-point wiring, 95dB S/N ratio, THD of less than 0.05% at 1.5V RMS and 98dB channel separation.
"The 33-pound chasis sports three balanced inputs, two single-ended inputs, two tape outputs and one XLR pre out. The US import price is $17.800." |
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| December 2009 - X260.5 - Pass Laboratories Inc. has introduced the X260.5 monos with extensions of Nelson Pass' patented Super-Symmetry™ circuit. "In addition, the X260.5 incorporates certain refinements from the balanced single-ended Class A circuits of Pass Labs' XA series amplifiers that significantly improves its performance while retaining its high power and reliability. The changes include improved power transformers and AC EMI filters, paralleled high-speed/soft recovery rectifiers, more paralleled power supply capacitors and supply RC filtering, refinements to the front-end input circuits and the addition of single-ended Class A bias circuits for balanced single-ended Class A results at low power levels. The X260.5's thick aluminum front panel includes Pass labs' distinctive meter as well as buttons and blue LED indicators for Power On, Off and Standby. The rear panel includes an IEC 320 AC power cord receptacle, a main power switch, two pairs of output connectors, a pair of binding post connectors for remote turn-on, one RCA input connector and one XLR balanced input connector. |
"The X260.5 Power Amplifier is available now from authorized dealers at a suggested price of $11,000 per pair." |
| December 2009 - Ohmige Schindig - Ken Ball announces the grand opening celebration of his downtown Portland 32-Ohm Audio store for December 11, 17 - 21 hours. "There'll be food, drinks, prizes and music by the fabulous DJ Lady Adie." |
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| December 2009 - CD virtue - The $769 Virtue Audio Piano M1 CD player "was built to complement the Sensation amplifier series. It shares the same Melissa platform enclosure and can be customized in the same way. For your convenience, the Piano includes optical, coaxial and two analog L/R outputs. The unit features the TDA1542 DAC chip with 176.4kHz upsampling. The machine has dual wound transformers to power the analog and digital circuits separately. The remote also works with the Sensation amplifier, for which it provides volume, standby and input selection." |
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