Hifi Pig

McIntosh Laboratory has launched a new integrated amplifier, complete with three-input DAC, headphone amp, plus a Moving Magnet phono input all in a compact chassis. 

The MA5200 offers D/A decoding at up to 32-bit/192kHz for digitally connected devices, plus a complement of analogue inputs. The three-strong digital input suite in the McIntosh Digital Engine includes an assignable coaxial and optical input, plus a dedicated asynchronous USB 2.0 input (operating at up to 32-bit).

Offering a (conservatively rated) 100-watt output and MA5200 benefitting from a Home Theatre Pass Through feature, it should integrate nicely into existing multichannel home cinema systems.

The MA5200 sells for £4,995 and is available now.  

Connectivity

Headphone output

High drive, high level inputs unbalanced: 4 stereo

High level inputs balanced: 1 stereo

Variable outputs unbalanced: 1 stereo

Digital USB input: 1 (USB 2.0 asynchronous)

Digital coaxial input: 1

Digital optical input: 1

Moving magnet phono

Home theatre pass through

RS232 control input

Power control output

Rear panel data ports

Rear panel IR sensor input

Input level match

Marantz has unveiled a new flagship AV Receiver SR7008.

Building on the strengths of the company’s SR7007, the new SR7008 extends the number of channels from seven to nine, and comes with further extensions like support for Spotify, or DTS Neo:X 9.1.

Marantz also upgraded Audyssey to MultEQ XT32/LFC as well as Audyssey Pro, so owners get an “even more accurate calibration of the speakers with a guarantee that every seat in the room is a ‘sweet spot’ for audio”. A Phono MM amplifier for vinyl fans is also on board, so is a 11.2ch pre-out for lots of system expansion possibilities.

Video signals are treated via advanced video processing, with 6+1 HDMI inputs, and 2+1 outputs (dual output for main zone and multi zone output), all of which support 3D 4k pass- through and 4k video processing. Lower resolution video can be up-scaled to Full-HD or even 4k. InstaPrevue technology makes it possible to preview all HDMI input sources on the screen via picture-in-picture. The front digital connectivity (HDMI & USB) makes the SR7008 friendly for mobile, tablet, iPad/iPhone, camera & camcorder.

The front panel folds up to reveal an additional two-line display. in place.

•   9ch discrete power amplifier, 200 W per channel

•   Trap door design with hidden 2nd display

•   Current Feedback circuitry with Marantz HDAM and customized components

•   9.2ch signal processing and Clock Jitter Reducer

•   DLNA 1.5 Network audio streaming

•   MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, WMA, Lossless, FLAC192/24(HD)

•   Gapless playback

•   Spotify, last.fm, Flickr, Internet Radio

•   Apple AirPlay and Windows 8/RT compatible

•   Audyssey MultEQ XT32, LFC, Dynamic EQ and Dynamic Volume + PRO ready

•   DTS Neo:X (up to 9.1ch) and Audyssey DSX Processing

•   6+1 HDMI inputs (3D/ARC/CEC/4k)

•   2+1 HDMI outputs (2x simultaneous, 1x for Zone 2)

•   Full 4k compatibility – Scaling – Pass-through – GUI overlay

•   InstaPrevue to preview HDMI input sources on screen

•   Multi-lingual Setup Assistant (9 languages)

•   Multi-room/Multi-source (3 Zones), supports Zone Audio from HDMI, coax., opt., network

•   11.2ch pre-out (with 2 independent subwoofers), Phono MM amplifier

•   Marantz Remote App for iOS and Android

Jerry is a fan of omnidirectional loudspeakers and owns a pair of MBL 116F speakers so we were interested to what he would make of the German Physiks Unlimited Mk2 Loudspeakers.

“The unusual “clever bit” about German Physiks speakers – their USP, the unique selling point, if you will – is an almost-full-range driver, called the DDD (standing for Dicks’ Dipole Driver, after Peter Dicks the inventor).  It covers from over 20KHz down to about 200Hz, and (usually*) conventional cone drivers take over from there for the bass region.  The DDD driver remains the same throughout the German Physiks range, the size and sophistication of the bass enclosure is the major difference as you increase the price.  With the higher end speakers, multiple DDD drivers are sometimes used, and the crossover necessarily becomes more sophisticated, as well.”

Read the full review of the German Physiks Unlimited Mk2 Loudspeakers and all our other hifi reviews.

The Mistral DT-307a is a hybrid amplifier and our man Dan puts it through its paces in this interesting review.

“The 307a is a hybrid, it retails at £249, is a 25w per channel tube hybrid and, whilst Mistral were not really fans of MP3, they acknowledge the existence with an ipod / usb input – this input caters for iphones up to an iphone 4 and rather than add yet another cable for iphone 5, the USB input will be replaced with a Bluetooth input which launches in September.”

The full review of the Mistral DT-307a is now live and you can real all our reviews here

As a classical violinist and physicist Damon Coffman founded Coffman Labs with one goal: creating products that reproduce the natural sound experienced during live performances. Coffman Labs builds all-analogue, vacuum tube-based products including the G1-A phono/line preamplifier and the H1-A headphone amplifier. All Coffman Labs’ products are hand-crafted in Oregon, USA using point-to-point wiring and custom parts. The G1-A is limited edition with only 500 numbered and signed pieces.

In our ongoing series of Behind the Brands interviews Hifi Pig talks to Damon about his history, his preferences in hifi gear and of course about some of the music he loves. Read the full interview with Damon Coffman.

Read all the Behind the Brands interviews and other Industry Insider articles.

Henley Designs contacted us to tell us about a new release from Box Design by Pro-Ject Audio Systems – The Head Box DS.

Designed with headphone audiophiles in mind, the Head Box DS is essentially a multi-source headphone amplifier. However, where it advances on from its predecessor, the Head Box S/E, is with the inclusion of a DAC chip from Cirrus Logic.

The built-in CS4344 DAC chip allows for 24-bit / 192kHz digital conversion over asynchronous USB, as well as conversion of more traditional digital sources via the Coaxial and Optical inputs. There is also an analogue input, for connecting a turntable or similar analogue source.

As well as working as a headphone amplifier, the Head Box DS can also act as a DAC for a full-sized speaker-based system utilizing the analogue output on the rear of the unit.

The Head Box DS is available now in Black or Silver finish for £299.00

As well as the Head Box DS they also wanted to tell us about the Essential 2 turntable from Pro-Ject.

The Essential 2 has many of the same aesthetic characteristics as the original model, with a silicone perimeter belt driving a 12” MDF platter. However, the tonearm has been improved from the previous ‘uni-pivot’ design to that of a more traditional 8.6” aluminium design, with sapphire bearings in a gimbal-style assembly, that has previously been found on higher priced Pro-Ject turntables. At the end of the arm is a pre-installed Ortofon OM 5E.

The Essential 2 also has a brand new synchronous motor system,  and stainless steel platter bearing that runs in a bronze bushing with Teflon lining.

The Essential 2 is available in the UK from July 2013 for £199. The turntable is also available in red or white matte finishes for an extra £10.