September 2010 - Heaven's Gate - Christoph Kraemer of Heaven's Gate Audio reports that his company founded in 1994 to build cable systems for recording engineers is now, 15 years later, primed to enter the consumer audio market. His cables are handcrafted in Germany in small batches and feature silver/gold conductor metallurgy said to have been uniquely optimized for minimal electromagnetic resonance behavior; an exclusive geometry for the pure-silver shielding; silk-fiber damping; and in the top models cryogenic and demagnetizing treatments. Plugs are from Cardas, Neutrik and Oyaide. All power cords use gold-plated Oyaide 079-Series plugs but can be upgraded with palladium-over-gold and palladium-over-platinum variants.
The current lineup spans four ranges including a pending one specialized on digital audio (USB, HDMI 1.4 and LAN). Prices currently range from €280 for a 1-meter digital link to €2.880 for a 4-foot analog interconnect pair.
Each purchaser enjoys a 4-week home trial satisfaction guarantee.
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| September 2010 - Lindell - Tobias Lindell reports that at the upcoming Arken Hifi Show in Gothenburg September 11-12, his company will unveil the new Reference Modular II loudspeaker featuring eight 8" Morel woofers, four 6" carbon fibre mids and two Supreme tweeters per active system with a USB-controlled crossover for woofer, midrange and tweeter level adjustments and some room EQing.
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| September 2010 - IEM - Ultimate Ears, a product of Logitech, has teamed up with EMI Music’s Capitol Studios "to design the first custom in-ear reference monitors for professional producers and audio engineers called Ultimate Ears In-Ear Reference Monitor [$999]. This design offers a flat response curve from 5Hz to 18kHz and up to 32dB of noise isolation from three individually tuned and balanced armatures in each handcrafted monitor." Because Ultimate Ears monitors are made specifically for each customer, one needs to have an audiologist create ear impressions. This fee is not included in the price. Sensitivity for the design is 109.5dB, 1kHz impedance 33 ohms, cable length 115cm, connection by 3.5mm plug and weight ca. 2oz.
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| August 2010 - Quad turbo - Graham Tricker announces the Quad II high-performance power supply "designed to elevate the performance of the respected and very popular vintage Quad II power amplifier. This newly developed power supply capacitor is a direct replacement for the original Quad item. The upgrade delivers a large improvement in sound: more detail, better resolution, larger soundstage width and depth plus faster transients.
The bank of high-performance capacitors are mounted on a bracket which mounts behind the original badge using the same screw holes and fixing hardware. The original power supply capacitor is simply removed and replaced with the high performance unit."
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| August 2010 - Olive branch - Olive announces the 4.1.3 software update "which brings some great new features, the biggest of which is a completely remodeled internet radio based on our own database with more than 2800 stations hand-groomed so they will show metadata correctly. We also added composer as a searchable music category. There's now support for
Korean, Japanese and Finish and
a regular system check proceeds while in sleep mode."
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August 2010 - JC returns - Parasound has introduced a new version of the John Curl-designed Halo JC2 preamplifier. The JC2BP adds a home theater bypass function. "When we started the JC2 project I hugely underestimated how many people would want to blend a JC2 into their surround system," said Parasound's president and founder, Richard Schram. "I put the idea to John Curl and we eventually came up with a way to implement this without touching the L and R channel audio boards. The result is a perfect sonic duplicate of the original JC2 with the added benefit of home theater bypass."
The changes include a modified potentiometer board and new control software. Circuit board designer Carl Thompson revised the potentiometer board layout so that it is now equipped with four relays that short out the four-gang main volume control and both two-gang trim pots. Additional fixed resistors set the outputs to unity gain when the bypass mode is selected.
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Any one or more of the JC2BP’s 6 inputs including the two balanced inputs can be assigned as bypass input. A new front panel includes an amber LED to indicate when a selected input is also assigned the bypass function. Parasound includes a new improved remote. In addition to fail-safe buttons to program the new bypass control, its new shape and rubber coating improves stability over the previous model.
The Halo JC2BP will be available with an MSRP of $4,500. Parasound also retrofits existing JC2s for $500 including return ground shipping in the US. |
| August 2010 - Danish wires - Carsten Schmidt Christensen announced Dyrholm Design Audio's new cable series whose "uncompromising construction minimizes static
electricity and adds vibration and noise damping. It is currently available as a silver bullet RCA or Switchcraft XLR design while the speaker cable uses Furutech spades or bananas." These cables are built to length in Denmark up to 4 meters. The construction from the outside in is a polyester sleeve surrounding a silicon tube filled with metalized gel. Inside the gel an inner PE tube is filled with oil-impregnated cotton which surrounds silver and copper conductors.
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| August 2010 - More virtuality - As global distributor, the Lotus Group announces the introduction of the SMc Audio VRE-1B preamplifier [$15.950]. "Enough upgrades have been incorporated into Steve McCormack’s VRE-1 preamplifier that a new model designation was called for.
New features include new wiring, new resistors, brand-new XLR jacks from Cardas, a new output transformer, the inclusion of Stillpoints internal standoffs under the circuit boards in both the audio circuit and power supply and new Corian control knobs. All VRE-1 preamplifiers are upgradeable to VRE-1B status." | 
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| August 2010 - Cinematic - Cary's new Cinema 11v [$4.000] is described as "a versatile high-definition video scaler/switcher/processor designed to deliver maximum image quality with powerful digital video processing, maximizing any standard or high definition input signal. Based on the Genesis FLI30436 video processing chip, it offers highly advanced dual-channel applications of Picture-in-Picture (PIP) and Picture-by-Picture (PBP). Two video decoders with 3D comb filters and two channels of DCDi® processing provide the highest quality picture for a two-channel application. There's true 10-bit performance throughout the device and Advanced Color Management (ACM-3D).
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"A DDR memory with enhanced picture data capacity provide an exceptionally high level of video quality. The integrated Analog Front End (AFE) includes two Triple analog to digital converters and two Faroudja® Intellicomb™ 3D comb filters." |
| August 2010 - New ModWrighter - Designed to match the price point of the KWA-100 power amp, the new LS 100 linestage replaces the 9.0SE. The new model is a single-ended design with a 10-function remote, 2 x 6SN7 drivers and 1 x 5AR4/GZ34 rectifier. The circuit runs a single gain/buffer stage to be phase inverting, 5 standard inputs, one monitor input and tape out, one HT bypass input and three sets of main outs. The balance control may be bypassed for a cleaner signal path. The headphone output is powered from the tube driver stage, the home theater bypass works with the unit powered down. Frequency response is 20Hz to 100kHz+ and a modular DAC board may be added at a later stage. | 
Prototype chassis for anticipated cosmetics |
| August 2010 - AE show room - J.Lam of Audio Exotics in Hong Kong recently finished his from-the-ground-up audio showroom. On current display are the Tidal Sunray towers with Tidal and Zanden electronics and a turntable from Da Vinci Audio Labs. Click on the image at right for a very much enlarged version. A current thread on the AE forum details much of the work that went into designing and acoustically treating this room whose power delivery wiring is by Argento. The owner believes that this is one of the best-sounding audio facilities on the Pacific Rim at the moment. Hong Kong visitors should make an appointment.
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August 2010 - Franck Tchang strikes again - The inventor of the original acoustic resonator, LiveLine cables and Tango loudspeaker has added monitor stands to his HeartSong audio racks. Using the same species of Brazilian Purple Heart and Yellow Heart woods plus a central rod of soft Maple for "turbulence regulation", the stands are manufactured in the US by Franck's brother Hab Tchang.
Different heights and footprints are available upon request.
There are rumors of a matching 6.5" 2-way Tango monitor speaker coming soon to perhaps explain this prior launch of a suitable stand.
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| August 2010 - Chirpy news from Cicada - Cicada Audio from Taiwan has specialized in OEM capacitor manufacture since the 1980s. "We custom make plastic and electrolytic capacitors for industrial and high-end audio customers and are one of just a few companies who can manufacture pure copper and aluminum foil capacitors. Our pure aluminum foil audio capacitors are available as 0.1uf to 10uf units @ 100V/650 and 3% tolerance. Our copper foil units come from 0.1uf to 3.3uf at 200V/650V and 3% tolerance. Either model is used as power supply bypass cap or for critical loudspeakers crossovers."
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| August 2010 - Fono Acustica - This is a new audio manufacturer focused on high-end performance
with an artisanal aesthetic. "Our evolving line of audio products and
accessories will have a shared purpose in helping audiophiles discover the
untapped potential in their existing electronics. We have concentrated
first on premier audio cables, a course borne of restlessness with the
performance and high price of current commercial designs. We offer a
unique combination of performance and value in products whose ownership
reflects passion for music and audio. Our website is finally ready.
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| August 2010 - Purist cables - Solid Core Audio's interconnects use oil-impregnated wooden plugs and solid-core silver conductors treated with three layers of C37 varnish which are sheathed in three layers of cotton. Prices for a pair begin at €600 for 0.5m and go to €1.350 for 2 meters.
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| August 2010 - New Klipsch x 17 - Klipsch announces its Reference II Series speakers. The new line is an enhanced version of the company’s Reference speakers and comprised of 17 all-new models.
Now in its fifth generation, the Reference II Series speakers incorporate re-engineered drivers and new crossovers. Complete with proprietary Tractrix horns, each model offers several cosmetic upgrades including new black metallic baffles, machined Cerametallic™ woofers, logos and feet.
The 17 new models consist of five floorstanding towers (RF-7 II, RF-82 II, RF-62 II and RF-52 II and RF-42 II), four bookshelf models (RB-81 II, RB-61 II, RB-51 II and RB-41 II), four center channels (RC-64 II, RC-62 II,RC-52 II and RC-42 II) and four surround speakers (RS-62 II, RS-52 II, RS-42 II and RS-41 II), which include Klipsch’s exclusive wide dispersion surround technology.
All Reference II Series loudspeakers feature lightweight rigid Cerametallic woofers; new horn tweeters with linear suspension and titanium compression drivers and are available in black ash or cherry furniture-grade wood and vinyl veneers.
With this lineup, the Klipsch Reference II Series now covers price points from $549.99 to $3,198.99 for a pair of floorstanding speakers, $279.99 to $798.99 for a pair of bookshelf models, $229.99 to $1,299.99 for a center channel and $329.99 to $1,198.99 for a pair of surrounds.
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August 2010 - Lotsa new stuff from South Korea - Allnic Audio Labs releases the Puritas cartridge, an Ebony body unit with Boron cantilever and micro ridge stylus with 0.3mV output. Current Verito owners enjoy an upgrade trade value to the new cartridge for $2.500. Full retail is $4.950.
Also new are the 60wpc A2000 and T2000 stereo and integrated amplifiers. Those operate in push/pull and "mostly class A" driving the new Russian TungSol KT120 in either pentode or triode mode. The chassis platform is the proven M3000 enclosure featuring easy-lift side handles. Both amps have XLR/RCA inputs and sell for $7.500 and $8.500 respectively.
Also new
is the H3000V phono stage. It boasts a colossal 16 curves for equalization to play back the late 50s and early 60s records prior to RIAA. The H3000V also sports high-performance nickel output transformers, 4 inputs, resistive loading and 4 gain levels of gain. Other features include custom gel-filled tube sockets, NOS tubes, a tube rectified PSU and transformer-coupled LCR equalization. Retail is $13.900. |
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August 2010 - Vienna in the US - Kevin Wolff, international sales manager for Vienna Acoustics, announces that "effective September 1st, 2010, we are opening a new office to handle North American distribution of our products. The primary goal of this new operation will be working specifically within an independent high-end audio/video retailer and custom integrator network that represents the kind of hand-crafted high performance products Vienna Acoustics is known for since 1989. In addition, Vienna Acoustics is announcing a new series of architectural products called the In-Waltz Series™ as well as a new subwoofer called the Principal Grand. Together with new Eastern sales director Patrick Butler, we have decided to terminate our association with the Magnolia Audio retail channels to focus on the independents. Our North American contact information is:
728 3rd St., Unit C, Mukilteo, WA 98275
(425) 314-1324."
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| August 2010 - Tube CDP - Vincent Audio introduces the CD-S8 [$3.295] HDCD-compatible player with Philips VAM 1250 transport and 24-bit Texas Instrument PM 1792 DAC with 192kHz sampling rate. The analog output stage uses a Chinese 12AX7 and two Russian 6922 dual triodes as well as WIMA and Solen capacitors and outputs to both RCA and XLR. There are also optical and coaxial digital outputs. Dress code is silver or black.
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| August 2010 - Linnenberg Audio - Ivo Linnenberg announces that his 20wpc integrated
amp2S [€3.200] is now shipping. "The amp2S employs a proprietary symmetric relay switch arrangement and a 4-times
rotary volume attenuator. The folded cascode JFET differential amplifier and driver
stage continues this elegant and short signal path. A combined lateral MOSFET/bipolar transistor output stage with high current capability is rock stable with low
impedance or reactive loads.
The amplifier is built in a true dual mono construction with large independent 225VA toroidal transformers for each channel. No less than a total of 106.000uF power capacitors are used for filtering the supply voltage. With every piece of Linnenberg Audio gear you are in the OpAmp free zone.
No global or local feedback ever takes place, even a DC-servo control loop was
dismissed. As a fully balanced design, the inputs are all of the 3-pin XLR type. An
unbalanced source is easily accommodated without any losses. For
convenience, volume, mute and input select are controlled by remote."
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| August 2010 - M80 - Meridian Audio announces the new $2.995 M80 high-performance compact entertainment system with iDock to replace the F80. "The sculpted elliptical cabinet is crafted of custom mineral composite and houses an 80-watt 2.1 DSP stereo system with rear-mounted subwoofer, slot-loading CD/DVD drive and AM/FM digital radio plus multiple analogue and digital inputs. The finest British leather available in Obsidian Black, Chestnut or Ivory is hand-stitched to the enclosure in Northampton by IM Kelly. The organic light emitting diode display features an automatic brightness control that adapts to ambient light levels.
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"The gloss-black i80 dock allows access to an iPod's digital music collection whilst charging. Tracks from the iPod can either be selected on the M80’s display panel or at a distance using the slimline handheld magnetic-backed remote control." |
| August 2010 - Async 24/192 D/D Wavelength - Gordon Rankin's new async WaveLink [$900] converts 24/192 USB 2.0 streams to S/PDIF on a BNC connector (BNC/RCA adaptor included) and supports 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192kHz sampling rates. For Windows support, Wavelength provides Thesycon Class 2 drivers. Windows XP or 7 are recommended and the prepackaged Asio driver means that after-market Asio software must be disabled.
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August 2010 - Robert Kŏda hits the UK - Robert Koch, ex Audio Note Japan (Kondo) and Audio Note UK engineer, introduces the Robert Kŏda brand with the $39.500 Takumi K-70, a tri-chassis 70-watt amp with a SET input stage, 32 power transistors and a 600VA R-core transformer per channel plus "a unique circuit design with a DC reactor power supply and an arsenal of 1,000 watts on the power rails".
The 80kg amplifier is encased in aluminium and finished in champagne gold. Each Takumi K-70 is hand-crafted in Tokyo by Mr. Robert Koch in a strictly limited quantity of 20 units per year globally.
Amplitune of the UK are proud to announce exclusive importation and that the first and currently only Takumi K-70 in the EU is available for demonstration in their Coventry, England facilities now.
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| August 2010 - Properly PC - Per-Olof of Sweden's Entreq introduces a revised 2010 Konstantin range of computer-audio cables. "Because computers get smaller all the time, there were some issues using our Konstantin Firewire and USB cables on the latest generation of laptops. We have now upgraded those with new contacts that fit the new computers."
Shown at right are Firewire 800/9-pin and 400/6-pin connectors with 6-pin terminals for the DAC ends; and USB.
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August 2010 - Erlangen goes hi-eff - As Peter from Frankfurt's Hörgesellschaft put it about Uwe Steiner's new Tja model, "highest WAF, 98dB and affordable at €6.800, review in the German mag Image HiFi later this month." Visiting Uwe's website at present nets just this photo.
But
Peter had more news. Crayon Audio from Austria for whom he is the global sales agent has for pending release soon a headphone amp, phono stage, CD player and their first loudspeaker. As part of our ongoing 32Ohm Series, I already committed to a review of Crayon's headphone amp.
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August 2010 - Batteries + tubes - Red Wine Audio unveils the LFP-V Edition for all Red Wine Audio components. Featuring a new vacuum tube stage and premium LiFePO4 battery technology, the LFP-V Edition delivers a more lifelike musical presentation and has five times the battery cycle life compared to sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries. The LFP-V Edition comes standard on all new orders and can be purchased as a factory-installed upgrade for existing customer units.
"The marriage of vacuum tubes and high-current battery power is now a reality.
By their very nature, vacuum-tube stages are power hungry. As a result, battery power supplies are subject to deep discharge cycles — especially when users listen for extended periods of time.
SLA batteries do not do well with multiple deep discharge cycles, which over time shorten both maximum listening time and battery life. This is not the case with LFP technology."
"LFP battery technology changes the playing field," says Vinnie Rossi, Red Wine Audio’s Owner. "We’re the first company to combine tube richness and warmth with a level of purity only LFP battery power can deliver and make it available across a complete line of hi-fi products.
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"LiFePO4 battery packs have much lower internal resistance than SLA, which translates directly into better sound. I was initially drawn to this technology for reasons such as reduced size and significantly longer lifespan. When I listened to it in our products, I was amazed by how much better it sounded as well.
The significantly increased energy density is the real game changer. Now I have a technology that's more compact but delivers tremendous power - enough to run our new vacuum tube stage off the grid for more than six hours." |
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| August 2010 - Desktoppers - NuForce announced the release of its Icon-2 [$349] and uDAC-2 [$129] desktop audio components. Together with the high-end Icon HDP [$449] and Icon Amp [$189], this series now completes a modular approach for bringing high-end audio to the masses. "Built on the successful Icon platform, the full NuForce line of 24bit/96kHz components offers heretofore unattainable performance for desktop and other computer-based music environments. As a headphone amp, preamp, 24/96 USB and 24/192 S/PDIF DAC, our Icon HDP leads the way. The 24wpc Icon Amp serves as a companion piece. The USB-powered portable uDAC-2 offers a high-quality USB DAC and headphone amp for those seeking high-performance audio from their computer music source. As a step beyond the successful uDAC, the uDAC-2 boasts a highly linear TOCOS volume control for improved channel tracking at low listening levels plus a 24bit/96kHz USB DAC and improved headphone amp.
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"Building upon the award-winning Icon integrated amplifier, the Icon-2 offers 24 watts of power, a 24/96 DAC, an improved headphone amp and preamp circuit."
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| August 2010 - GTX outlets - Furutech presents the GTX series of single and duplex outlets built to perfectionist standards.
They sport Rhodium or gold-plated pure copper conductors of 0.8mm diameter; a non-magnetic stainless conductor spring system; Nylon/fiberglass bodies with piezo ceramic and carbon damping materials; polycarbonate covers; and a non-magnetic 2.0mm-thick stainless brace plate.
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| August 2010 - Philophon - The Philophon Op. 19 from Germany's Tronak company is a widebander two-way with a claimed response of 40Hz to 18kHz and a crossover frequency of 300Hz. The drivers are a vintage Philips AD 1300/6 and vintage Isophon woofer, the latter in a two-chamber bandpass loading. Hi/lo-pass filters are 1st-order slopes. The enclosure measures 39 x 25 x 30cm and weighs 10.3kg. Click on the image for a full-size leaflet with additional photos.
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July 2010 - 15th annual Summer Against Hunger -
"Once again for 2010, in our 15th year of organizing the Summer
Against Hunger, 100% of purchases of sponsored products from The Cable
Company in August will benefit CARE - guaranteed!
This dollar for dollar donation works due to leverage. The Cable
Company donates a percentage of sales which are matched by sponsoring
manufacturers. The 1:1 minimum donation is guaranteed by the
generous participation of an anonymous audiophile donor, who is
providing a funding match for total Cable Co. + vendor
contributions, and who is also underwriting the collection of
additional matching funds from other CARE donors.
In fact, in the last few years our customers' August purchases have
not just generated a 1:1 donation to CARE. Rather due to the
availability of match funding from third parties, as much as $4.20
was donated to CARE for each $1.00 in purchases from The Cable
Company.
Aggregate donations during the 15 years of Summer Against Hunger
including match funding are approaching $2 million and have helped
support CARE programs in some of the poorest parts of the world. In
the last few years Summer Against Hunger donations have been
earmarked for projects including the development of agricultural
infrastructure in Madagascar, building schools in north central
Nicaragua and basic child survival nutrition and health programs in
Sierra Leone."
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| July 2010 - Distribution announcement - Dynamic Design Corporation's Bill Artope appoints Red Leaf Audio Marketing as
the Canadian distributor for their cable products.
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| July 2010 - Silvercore - "OMA is proud to announce exclusive importation and distribution for North America of the complete line of Silvercore step up transformers for use with moving coil cartridges. Silvercore is made by hand in Germany and as the name implies, features pure silver wire transformers in the higher-end models. These toroidal transformers are available in a wide range of types with different step up or gain ratios and different impedances to suit virtually any moving coil cartridge."
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| July 2010 - Higher diamonds - CEO Dott. Salvatore Filippelli of HiDiamond reports that "HiDiamond is a leading Italian company born in the years 2000. We invite you to look at our new website and learn about our philosophy to constructing cables from start to finish. We introduced this year a new low-priced RCA interconnect called the Diamond Entry which incorporates our trademarked 4VRC technology; the new cables Diamond Small Blue, Diamond Green MKII with Rhodium connectors, Diamond White MKII and an HDMI-certified 1.4 HDMI Black Silver Hi Speed cable in 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 meter lengths."
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| July 2010 - Purer purity - Joe Jurzec announces " the first production piece of our new cost-no-object preamp, the Purity Audio Design Silver Statement. We will be debuting this unit and the new Reference preamp at RMAF 2010 in room 522. During the last two years and our development cycle, we were in the AMR/Rethm room front-ending the AMR AM-77 integrated amp; and at last year’s RMAF our preamp was used in the Al Stiefel Memorial room fronting the McAlister amplifiers."
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| July 2010 - Meridian/Sooloos news: Meridian announces two new key products for the Sooloos Series. The first is "the Control 15, which combines the three essential elements of every Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System—storage, playback and control—in a single freestanding device that, when paired with Meridian’s DSP Loudspeakers, forms a complete digital system delivering class-leading audio performance and control." The second is "the Meridian Media Source 600, an audio endpoint for a single Meridian Sooloos zone designed to make it simple to integrate Meridian Sooloos in to any music or media system through a host of high-quality analog and digital audio connections."
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July 2010 - Ara - Emillé Labs' new Ara [<€3.000] is a remote-controlled integrated of 22wpc stereo tube output with two line-level inputs plus coaxial and USB digital inputs connected to an internal DAC. Input sensitivity is 0.4V RMS. There are 4/8-ohm speaker outputs on the rear and a 32-ohm headphone socket on the front. Dimensions are 420 x 425 x 166mm WxDxH, weight is 24kg.
The tube complement consists of 4 x 6922 and 4 x 7591A. The hand-wound output transformer has dedicated secondaries for the 6.35mm headphone output. Bias type is "proprietary compound" but doesn't require user adjustments. The integral tube cage docks on the corner stanchions and removes without leaving a trace. Earliest shipping date is September 6.
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July 2010 - TLC for TCL - Bassocontinuo Audio Systems introduces the TCL, "a cable lift that uses a combination of three different materials:
handmade polished Plexiglas,
special silicon O-rings on the floor and a new plate made of Technogel®
on the cable side. The
TCL can accept cables up to 40mm in diameter, minimizes floor-borne
vibrations and breaks up
standing-wave vibrations. It can be used under power and loudspeakers cables. The
TCL will be marketed starting September 2010 with a price of €78/ea."
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| July 2010 - Quad mosh - Quad Musicwiedergabe of Germany invites one and all to the QuadFest on September 4 and 5. The Quadfest will take place at the headquarter of QuadMusikwiedergabe in Gering (Eifel). Mr. Jürg Jecklin (Jecklin Float) will speak about the benefits of multichannel recordings. Mr. Peter Mühlmeyer (Ortofon, Germany) will be there to answer all questions about Ortofon's latest pickups and tonearms. Mr. Henk Hompert will demonstrate the classical Quad electrostatics. Finally a demonstration will pit a professional legacy Studer tape recorder against a high-quality modern hard-disc memory system.
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| July 2010 - Thiel goes Amazon - Loudspeaker company Thiel Audiohas announced that seven models have become available through Amazon for the US market. These models include the architectural products, bookshelf speakers and subwoofers. "We believe that online commerce for high performance audio will include the largest retailers such as Amazon," explained Ken Dawkins, Vice President of North American Sales for Thiel. "Our relationship with Amazon will position Thiel advantageously for the future as more consumers rely on the Internet to research and purchase premium products," Dawkins continued.
| The list of Thiel models available on Amazon.com include the PowerPlane 1.2 and HigherPlane 1.2 in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, the PowerPoint 1.2 aluminum on-wall/on-ceiling speaker, the DewPoint outdoor speaker, the SCS4 and MCS1 bookshelf/center-channel speakers and new subwoofer product to be unveiled later in 2010. "We are confident that there are numerous potential customers who may not be close to a local Thiel retailer but have an existing comfort level with Amazon and want access to the brand," Dawkins related.
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July 2010 - New JohnBlue mini - "The
M3 is the most recent wideband home theater speaker unveiled by JohnBlue. It encompasses the design concept of a 3-inch full-range driver. The cabinet is made of high-density fiberboard in 12mm thickness. To avoid unnecessary reflections in the dark when watching a movie, the surface finish is a flat black paint. The M3 cabinet is so small, it can just about accommodate our 3-inch widebander which has almost the same width as the cabinet. Diffractions on the front of the speaker are eliminated. Due to the sealed alignment and small cubic volume, the M3's low-frequency extension is 100 - 120Hz depending on setup. An active subwoofer is thus essential for a complete system."
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July 2010 - New Sensor reissues - Ian Large of UK valve importation house Alium Audio announces that "New Sensor have just sent us some promo pics of the new Genalex Gold Lion noval range of valves which are made to extremely tight tolerances, with balanced sections and gold pins as the current cream of the crop from the New Sensor factory in Russia.
"I attach photos of the 12AU7,12AX7 and E88CC. If these are as good as the KT88/KT66 and EL84 reissues, then it is good news indeed for us to be able to buy new stock that approaches the quality of the famed Golden Age of 1950/1960's production.
"With vintage Mullard CV4004s selling for astronomical amounts, these are well worth a try and are reckoned to be a close substitute.
USA website RRP is $136/pair, our Euro price is £65/pair+VAT."
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July 2010 - Viper A - "Vipera is a cable manufacturer since 2009. Our website is finally ready and we launched two new cable series. Our purpose is to deliver audio/video cables to customers around the world at very reasonable prices." -
CEO - Kenneth Jensen
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July 2010 - Albedo HL 3.4 - What would happen if Albedo's HL1.2 and 2.2 models gained bigger woofers? The answer is the HL3.4 [€17.500/pr] "whose Helmholine shows all its power in managing high volumes while maintaining the detailed bass textures transmission lines are known for. To limit the height of the cabinet, the woofers' wave guide is folded and uses the short metal plinth of the base as additional cubic volume for the acoustic resonator filter. The elliptically shaped cabinet is a special high-density well-damped sandwich to be vibrationally neutral. The lateral enclosure panels are mould-pressed and come in either striped ebony or striped walnut veneer.
"All ceramic Accuton driver sare linked to a sophisticated crossover that ensures the best linearity of amplitude and phase for a time-coherent reproduction. Moreover, the crossover was developed with tube amplifiers in mind. The impedance curve is very smooth across the audio range and never dips below 4 ohms.
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"The crossover is an acoustic first order, the drivers are a 1.2" tweeter, 5" midrange and 2 x 6.5" woofers. Sensitivity is 89dB, bandwidth 35 to 20.000Hz, weight is 66kg/ea. and dimensions are 62 x 25 x 115cm." |
July 2010 - Q up - Qsonix introduces and announces immediate availability of the new Q2 series, the first new music server systems since announcing its partnership with Wadia Digital. "A completely superior new design, the Q2 series replaces the Q100 line. The new Q205 & Q210 systems are built on Qsonix's next-gen hardware & software platform and incorporate Wadia Digital's digital audio output technology.
"Housed in a new mechanical enclosure featuring a precision-machined aluminum front panel, the Q2 series products are whisper quiet and offer a user experience of simple sophistication with a hi-resolution refined GUI and iPad compatible remote control interface. Sonically the Q205 supports uncompressed high-definition 24/192kHz bit audio and offers all the most important digital outputs like AES/EBU, S/PDIF, TosLink and USB.
"For music throughout the home, the new Q210 features four discreet high-quality analog outputs, hard-wired IR connector as well as Crestron and third-party automation system support. The Q210 also benefits from a new chassis and a rack-mounting kit. In addition the system can be upgraded with a digital audio output connection and high-definition audio support when desired. The new Q2 systems are available with a choice of 1TB or 2TB premium hard drive storage and 15" or 17" touch screen controllers. Both units include built-in support for desktop PC/Mac and iPhone, iPod touch and iPad remote control operation."
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July 2010 - More free high-resolution recordings from LessLoss - "To demonstrate to more audiophiles the high level of quality offered by
the Blackbody and DFPC Signature power cables, LessLoss Audio Devices has released more recordings you can download for free. No registration
required, just grab the files directly.
New features include a great Steinway & Sons grand piano recorded in unprecedented clarity. And an acoustic stereo percussion duet (no
subsequent electronic processing) featuring an assortment of famous rhythmic influences: Brazilian Samba, African Danza, Argentinian Tango and Afrocuban Tumbao. The recordings are getting better and better!
Also, LessLoss Audio Devices renewed its logo to a sleeker more technical look."
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| July 2010 - He's back - Mick Maloney, Aussie designer of Supratek valve gear, had taken a sabbatical from hifi but has now returned with very limited hand-crafted production of new phono stages. "We had slowly evolved the phonos up to very sophisticated units that eventually became a hybrid of tubes and transistors and sounded pretty good but lost the rock-solid reliability of tubes.
Last year we got out of audio but I played around with a few ideas to come up with all new designs that are wonderful but even better, less complex and have 50+ year lifetime reliability.
It's the antithesis of mass production
though - maximally 2 or 3 units a month."
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| July 2010 - New dragons - Red Dragon Audio releases two new ICEpower amps, the M500 [$699/ea.] and M1000 [$899/ea.] monos packaged in new extruded aluminum chassis. The M1000 delivers 500/1000wpc into 8/4 ohms with 50 amperes peak output current, comprehensive protection circuity, patented Cardas bindings posts and RCA or XLR (but not both) inputs. The M500 offers exactly half the power. Either model runs 27dB of gain and comes factory configured for either 115 or 230VAC operation. Warranty is one year.
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