Luxman have announced the CL-38uSE and MQ-88uSE Special-edition valve preamplifier and power amplifier, with production limited to just 100 pieces of each. More »
Audio Hungary got in touch to tell us more about their Qualiton brand, their products, philosophy and their history. “Audio Hungary Ltd., owners of the Qualiton brand, started off in 2012. This essentially came about when they purchased Univox Ltd, a manufacturer of industrial PA equipment. Without wanting to make this a lesson in economic history: the company started back in the 1940’s operating under the names of “Audio” “EAG “and BEAG until the 1990’s. That was when Univox was created from a manufacturing unit of BEAG (Budapest Electro-Acoustics Factory). BEAG used to be one of the largest players in the industry in the Eastern bloc, having also supplied the entire PA system for the Moscow Olympics back in 1980”. More »
Cyrus ONE is a 100 watt per channel amp using the third generation of the company’s hybrid class D technology. It is packed full of features including a built-in phono stage, Bluetooth® streaming and a high quality headphone amplifier. More »
NuPrime Audio has announced the release of NuPrime DAC-10H, a DAC & Headphone Amplifier (MSRP$1,795) and NuPrime ST-10, a Reference LE class 
power amplifier (MSRP$1595). The DAC-10H offers PCM 384K & DSD256 decoding with a high-power balanced headphone amplifier. This DAC with dual headphones outputs has 6 gain settings.
The DAC-10H’s balanced headphone amplifier is capable of driving headphones in balanced and single-ended configuration and can be used with up to two dynamic headphones. With five digital & two analog stereo inputs, the DAC-10H is a full-featured DAC and preamp.
The ST-10 amplifier is NuPrime’s Reference LE class power amplifier for listeners who require a reference-class amplifier at a somewhat lesser power rating of 2 x 150W (8 Ohm).
Parasound has announced the launch of their new ZoneMaster Model 1250, a universal amplifier which can simultaneously power
a home theatre surround system and additional zones with independent sources.
The ZoneMaster 12-channel power amplifier has connections for 24 speakers combined with 2-ohm stability, allowing the use of two speakers per channel. It’s rated at 12×50 watts into 8 ohms, and 12×90 into 4 ohms. Each channel pair can be bridged to deliver 6×160 watts into 8 ohms and 6×200 watts into 4 ohms RMS, all channels driven.
There are independent line inputs and level controls for each channel, two Bus inputs with looping outputs, plus a speaker-level input that can be routed to any zone. There are also independent 12-volt and audio triggers with looping trigger outputs for each zone, and a global 12-volt trigger.
Detachable Phoenix-style speaker connectors accept up to 12-gauge wire and the Model 1250 has a power consumption of just 0.5 watt standby power consumption to meet Energy Star and European Union specifications.
“The ZoneMaster Model 1250 is a game changer in a category populated by mediocre generic IC amplifiers,” said company president, Richard Schram. “The Class AB input stage and premium Class D power stage generate performance consistent with Parasound’s heritage. It is as useful for distributed audio as it is for home theater, where it could augment an AV receiver with 3×160 plus 4×50 watts.”
The Parasound ZoneMaster Model 1250 will be available from December with a UK SRP of £1,995.
Cary Audio will be at the 2014 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF) in the Marriott Towers Room 8025 from October 10th-12thin Denver, Colorado with the following kit.
The eagerly awaited DMC-600, which will be shipping later this year. The DMC-600 is a digital music center incorporating a CD 
transport and a wide array of digital inputs, including PC-USB, Bluetooth, Coaxial, Toslink, and AES/EBU. Additionally, it will support native DSD via the PC-USB up to at least DSD128. Like Cary Audio’s past reference level CD players, this will also include a five step selectable digital up-sampling and a selectable vacuum tube/solid state output at the touch of a button.
Intended specially for The 2014 RMAF, Cary Audio has also custom built an “ultimate edition” SLI-80 integrated amplifier that will “leave you breathless and gasping upon listening”. Cary have built just two of these units and both will be available for sale at the RMAF. The ultimate edition includes the following:
Jaguar red chassis with anthracite black transformer cans/top.
WBT speaker posts.
Greyhill selector switch.
Hexfreds to replace the B+ power supply and bias rectifiers.
Bypass capacitors on the various electrolytic capacitors.
Replace resistor in the power supply section with a custom choke transformer.
Replace numerous resistors with high-end metal film resistors.
DC filaments on the input tubes and removal of rectifiers.
Replace coupling capacitors with V-cap CuTF capacitors.
Replace standard tubes with (2) 6DJ8 Amperex Bugle Boy input/buffer, (2) RCA 6SN7GT pre-drive/phase inverter, (2) RCA or Sylvania 5U4 rectifier, and (4) Genalex Gold Lion KT-88’s.
Black Pearls is a relatively newcomer to the audiophile marketplace and their first product, the Birth 100 Integrated 
amplifier, certainly looks like a well thought out product from the outside. Hifi Pig’s Stuart has the Black Pearls amplifier at home for a close up and personal review.
“Hifi Pig first bumped into the Greek “Black Pearl” brand whilst at the Munich High-End show earlier in the year. They were part of the newcomers’ area of the show and had what looked to be a pretty accomplished design for a company with just one product under their belt – the Birth 100 amplifier…alas it wasn’t possible to listen at the show and so we sought out a review sample.”
Read the full review of the Black Pearls’ Birth 100 Amplifier.
Rogue Audio who we met at the Munich High End show has announced they have begun shipping the new ST-100 tube 
power amplifier.
With circuitry adapted from their M-180 monoblocs the ST-100 will be rated at 100WPC and offer both RCA and balanced inputs. The ST-100 from Rogue audio will feature custom wound transformers coupled with the KT-120 output tubes.
MSRP will be $3,495 with an introductory price of $2,995.
Rogue also announced that their Pharaoh integrated amplifier is now shipping. Based on their Hydra/Medusa amplifier the Pharaoh is Rogue Audio’s flagship integrated amp. With 175 WPC into 8 ohms the Pharaoh features a tube preamplifier circuit, an MM/MC phono preamplifier with adjustable loading and gain, a tube headphone amplifier, processor loop, balanced inputs and home theatre bypass
MSRP is $3,495.
NuForce, Inc have announced a single-chassis integrated stereo amplifier, the IA-18. The uni
t incorporates components used in NuForce’s c Reference Series products including much of the same circuitry as the P-20, the company’s most recent flagship preamplifier, a Cross Matrix Array (CMA) capacitor module, and two V3 output amplifier modules.
The IA-18 features five analogue RCA inputs and the same touch-strip control panel as that of its reference sibling. The IA-18’s volume control, which, like the P-20’s, consists of a switched-resistor ladder network consisting of the latest advances in thin-film technology is said to be a key feature of the amplifier and operates by way of a single thin-film, ultra-low-noise resistor in the signal path for each of its 0.5dB gain settings, allowing for precise volume adjustment for each channel in discrete, 0.5dB steps.
The amp is offered in a black or silver sand-blasted anodized aluminum case and includes a custom-designed remote that permits operation of all of the unit’s functions from listening position.
Features:
- Full microprocessor control with memory retention
- Five stereo inputs for complete system flexibility
- Ultra low noise JFETs employed in input stage
- Volume adjustment in 99 precise, 0.5dB increments
- Thin-film switched-resistor ladder network for controlling volume – only a single resistor in the signal path at any volume setting
- Individually adjustable volume on each input for precise level matching of all sources
- A pair of V3 amplifier modules
- Cross-Matrix Array (CMA) capacitor module
The NuForce IA-18 is available worldwide for a suggested retail price of US$3500 and shipping immediately.
Hi-Fi distributor Sound Fowndations has announced the addition of the CANOR TP134 valve amplifier to its portfolio of 
high quality audio components.
The CANOR TP134 is a high quality stereo integrated amplifier that uses EL34 output valves to generate 35 watts per channel operating in pure class A up to 10 watts per channel. The circuit boards feature patented CMT ™ (Canor Milling Technology) which means that areas of the circuit board are precisely removed to give the circuit similar electrical characteristics to one direct wired with air dielectric cables.
The TP134 features a high quality relay attenuator volume control which the company say provides a “more direct signal path with fewer contacts than typical volume controls leading to precise control and higher sonic performance”.
All control electronics, such as input switching and volume adjustment, are fed from a separate section of the power transformer and the control circuitry is only active when being used which Canor says avoids degradation of the sound quality of the amplifier.
Further the Canor TP134 boasts double copper foil shielding between the mains transformer to prevent mains noise from affecting the performance, a high capacitance anode power supply filtration providing “tight and accurate bass performance”, audiophile quality polypropylene capacitors in audio signal paths, custom designed bifilar wound output transformers “providing maximum power evenly across the entire bandwidth.
For the terminally lazy the TP134 is supplied with a remote control – Hifi Pig REALLY wants a remote control!
Price is £2495
Audiolici is a Portuguese audio company based in oPorto. The company was founded in 2007 and specialise in the 
design and manufacture of valve based pre and power amplifiers.
Their latest product is the Audiolici A-25 valve amplifier which is an integrated valve amplifier. The input selector of the A-25 is designed around four pairs of low power miniature relays with all processes being controlled by electronic circuits to reduce crosstalk between right and left channels.
The input stage of the amplifier uses a double triode 6SL7 and the push pull output power stage is based on one pair of 6L6Gc in the A1 models and EL34 in the A1/25 models.
The amp operates in class A.
The latest in the series of Conrad-Johnson vacuum-tube power amplifiers, the LP125sa is announced for release in 
the UK by Audiofreaks distribution. The high-end amplifier is a single stereo block and, at 125 watts per channel has ample power for the majority of high-end loudspeakers.
The LP125sa audio circuit consists of three stages. The input signal is amplified by a single-ended triode amplifier, the signal is then direct coupled to a cathode coupled phase-inverter and this high cur rent, triode phase-inverter stage provides a bal anced, low impedance drive to the output stage which is provided by two pairs of KT120s per channel.
The LP125sa boasts massive transformers and a small amount of loop negative feedback reduces distortion and achieves a reasonably high damping factor.
The power supplu in the LP125sa is a separate, low impedance, discrete dc affair and regulators are provided for the input and phase-inverter stages, “preventing the output stage from modulating these stages through the power supply”.
A built in bias meter allows for simple biasing of the valves.
The amplifier is available in a standard configuration for just shy of £8000 and a “plus” version with upgraded caps and resistors comes in at a fiver short of £10000.
TEAC have recently announced the launch of a new series of hifi seperates called the 501 Reference series. The series 
includes the AI-501DA class D integrated amplifier (pictured) with 192kHz USB Audio Input using BurrBrown PCM5102 D/A , the PD-501HR CD Player with 5.6MHz DSD-file-recorded disc nativeplayback, the HA-501full-analogue dual monaural headphone amplifier and finally the UD-501 DSD 5.6MHz / PCM 384kHz capable dual monaural D/A converter.
All the units are small footprint to fit on your desktop.
Hot on the heals of the DAC-V1 Naim have launched the NAP 100 power amplifier, which they say is a “classic expression of traditional Naim power amplifier engineering”. Naim’s latest addition to their 
power amplifier stable offers 50 watts per channel at 8 Ohms, and 100 watts at 4 Ohms, the NAP 100 is a dual mono design based on the circuit topology found in the comapny’s SuperUniti all-in-one player. The NAP 100 has been designed to be used with its partner the DAC-V1, and either a computer or UnitiServe for example, to create what Naim say will be a “thoroughly modern system, bursting with Naim rhythm and clarity”.
Audion have today announced the release of their latest product Audion Select, a passive pre-amplifier. 
“The name “Audion Select” has been given as it’s mainly an input selector and in the double entendre stakes its also quite a select product.” Said Graeme Holland of Audion.
The basic Audion Select is a passive pre-amplifier with 5 line inputs, 2 line outputs and an unattenuated tape loop. Volume control is by an Alps pot fitted and with ground loop lift switch and hard wired.
The chassis is designed to match the rest of the Audion range in looks and sound quality, and having the same size and shape will fit in with other Audion equipment when on your rack.
The retail price for the standard 5 channel model is anticipated at £475 and the Audio Slelect pre-amplifiers are available now and will be with our distributor (Deco Audio in the UK) in approx 1 weeks time. 
There will be versions with 48way stepped attenuators, and / or silver wire, and possibly transformer volume control.
In future Audion will be developing a transistorized mm/mc phono stage (aimed at the Revolver market which Audion now owns), a select passive pre with balanced in/outs and even a headphone amp (valve) in the chassis.
Electrocompaniet is launching today a new integrated amplifier with a built-in DAC in the Prelude range. The amplifier 
is based on the PI 2 amplifier and boasts 2 x 100 Watts. Up to 5 Digital sources can be connected to the PI 2D: two Coax, two TOSLink and one USB. Analog sources can be connected by one balanced XLR input and four single ended RCA inputs giving a total of 10 inputs.
The PI 2D will have a RRP of 3150€
Technical specifications:
• Input impedance ( Single Ended ): 60 kOhm
• THD + N: < 0.005%
• Output Impedance: < 0,03 Ohm
• Frequency response: 1 – 225kHz
• Channel separation: > 120 dB
• Noise floor ( 1Vrms, 20 – 20 kHz, balanced): <-130 dB
• Damping factor: >300
• Rated output power 8 ohms 2 x 100 W, 4 ohms 2 x 165 W, 2 ohms 2 x 220 W
• USB input: 192kHz/24bit Asynchronous
• Weight: 11Kg
Price €3150
Van de Leur Audio is a Dutch company who hand built high-end audio products and as from today, their website is open 
for visits in the English language.
Since the introduction of the Van de Leur Audio 002 tube preamplifier and their Audio 402 Class-D dual mono amplifier the company has received high praise and their high end audio products have been well received in the Dutch media.
Only the two products are in the range at the moment but we are assured a new product is very close to announcement.
Hifi Pig will hopefully have the amp and matching pre for review very soon.
The Burson Conductor is a DAC, Headphone amp and Pre-amplifier in one box.
At the heart of our DAC is the ESS SABRE32 Reference DAC chip with patented 32-bit Hyper-stream DAC 
architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technology. The Conductor also features the well reviewed Soloist Headphone Amplifier and a FET output stage Pre-amplifier.
The Conductor features a 24bit/192khz Tenor TE8802 USB receiver working in Asynchronous Transfer Mode. It also accepts coaxial and Toslink inputs supporting 32bit/192khz audio files. On the analogue front, it accepts analogue input via RCA and outputs in 6.35mm headphone jack, line-level output (DAC) and variable output (preamp).
Input impedance: 36.5 KOhms
Frequency response: ± 1 dB 0 – 50Khz
Signal to noise ratio: >96dB
THD: <0.03% at 30ohm with 1W ouput
Channel separation: >73dB
Output power: 4W at 16 Ohms
Input impedance: >8K Ohm @ 30 Ohm, 1W
Output impedance: <1 Ohm @ 30 Ohm, 1W
Power dissipation: >45W, internal, regulated power supply
Price $1850
The 50 Watt RMS, 50TNT monoblock amplifier is Ohio based Audio Power Lab’s latest product and was officially 
launched at the Capital Audiofest earlier in the summer. The company say the amplifier is the “ultimate marriage of astounding audio transparency and sophisticated physical design” and is hand-built by the company in Ohio .
The amplifier has taken over three years of work by a team of engineers and designers and the 50TNT is the newest addition to the company’s family of push-pull amplifiers utilizing directly heated triode output tubes, transformer coupling, zero negative feedback and pure Class A operation.
The amplifier features a tube complement of 2x572B, 2×5881, 2x12BH7 running in push pull configuration and weighs in at an impressive 27Kg.
Lampizator, the famed Polish manufacturer owned by the maverick genius Lucasz Fikus, has announced that they are to 
introduce a new monobloc tube amplifier for the European market only. The company are aiming the GM70s at people who would normally buy a stereo 300B amp, but with 30 WPC instead of 8 supplied by the impressive looking GM 70 triode valve.
The amplifiers are single ended from input to output and operate in pure class A mode with zero feedback. There are no solid state parts in audio circuits and the power supplies are unregulated and over-specified for the task. The GM70s boast a separate transformer for each task with a total of three per side. Signal paths have been kept to an absolute minimum with just 2 inches of silver wire from RCA to pot, 2 inches of silver wire from pot to first tube, one inch to second tube and a hop across one capacitor to main tube without additional wiring.
Specification:
Dimensions WHD : 450 x 140 (250) x 600 mm
Weight: net 30 kg per each mono
Power: 30 WPC single ended class A
Power Tube: GM70 triode graphite version
Driver: doubled 6N6P
Input tube 6N1P
Input impedance: 47 K
Output impedance (speakers recommended) 8 Ohm
Volume: Stepped input potentiometer ALPS
Power transformers total capacity: 700 VA
Rectification: two separate tube rectifiers for HV
Inputs: One single ended RCA
Price 4000€ per pair plus 23% VAT with a special edition available for 5500€ plus 23% VAT
At CEDIA 2012, HARMAN Luxury Audio Group is showcasing its Mark Levinson 40th Anniversary № 52 Reference 
Dual-Monaural Preamplifier.
“We are excited to offer the № 52 to music lovers and audio connoisseurs worldwide,” said Jim Garrett, Director of Marketing and Product Management for HARMAN Luxury Audio Group and Loudspeakers. “The № 52 embodies the uncompromising technological innovation, superlative sound, unmatched build quality and striking design that has made Mark Levinson synonymous with ultimate-performance audio for 40 years. We designed the № 52 to deliver the highest level of sonic accuracy and musical involvement.”
The № 52 is an all-analog, dual-monaural design with a two-chassis configuration that separates the critical analog audio circuitry from the control section to maintain the purest signal paths possible. It provides a comprehensive complement of inputs including three balanced XLR and four unbalanced RCA line-level inputs, and a dedicated phono input that is selectable for moving coil (MC) or moving magnet (MM) operation. Two sets of XLR and RCA stereo preamplifier outputs are provided, along with an auxiliary pair of XLR and RCA outputs that can be configured for fixed or variable level output with independent source selection. This enables the auxiliary outputs to function either as a third preamp out, a pass-through full-range subwoofer output or a record output.
The Mark Levinson № 52 offers a unity gain SSP (surround sound processor) output that provides the ability to integrate the audio sources that are connected to it into a home theater system, while maintaining independent stereo operation for music sources. The № 52 provides extensive control and system interface connectivity via Ethernet, Mark Levinson’s proprietary ML Net, 12V trigger and IR control ports. In addition, a USB port facilitates possible future software upgrades. The № 52 is supplied with a remote control that can also be used to operate other Mark Levinson components.
Its control section features mirror-imaged DC power supplies and AC regeneration circuits for a clean and stable power delivery and signal purity. Individual left and right DC umbilical cords are used to connect to the audio sections in the second chassis, and control signals are delivered via a third cable to keep them isolated. The audio chassis is laid out in a mirror image, left/right configuration with isolated and independent circuit boards for the volume, main and auxiliary signal paths, and extensive shielding for critical components. The chassis is constructed from heavy aluminum extrusions and plates.
The Mark Levinson № 52 Reference Dual Monaural Preamplifier will be available in January 2013.
California based Channel Island Audio have announced that they have been selected to to design and custom build the 
amplifiers for Von Schweikert Audio’s flagship VR-11 MK 2 and VR-9 MK 2 loudspeakers.
The VR‑11 loudspeaker will make its debut appearance at the MOD DAC 2012 Show in the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore on August 25th and 26th.
NAD has announced two new products targeted at both the home and the custom install market, the T787 and T777 AV 
Receivers.
The T787 and T777 are both 7-channel amplifiers that are power output rated at 4 ohms with all channels driven across the full 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range.
The T787 is rated at 120 wpc, and that is supported by the use of one power transformer dedicated solely to the front left and right channels, and a second transformer supplying the needed current to rest of the channels. The T777’s single transformer supplies enough current to enable its amplifier to still deliver a full 80 wpc. Both units provide Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, as well as analogue-to-HDMI video conversion and switching (1080p and 3D compatible) and also feature six HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs (Audio Return Channel is also supported).
