Luxman, one of the world’s oldest and most revered audio manufacturers, enters its tenth decade of with the arrival of the L-590AX Mark II – the best integrated amplifier the company has ever produced. The amp operates in pure Class A and is said to be a culmination of all that Luxman has learned since launching Japan’s first high-quality integrated hi-fi amplifier, the valve-based SQ5A, in 1961.L-590AXII_Email[2]

At the amp’s heart lies Luxman’s fourth-generation ODNF (Only Distortion Negative Feedback) circuit, sporting a three-parallel push-pull structure with three-stage Darlington. This restricts feedback to distortion components only, enabling a fast primary slew rate, ultra-wide bandwidth and enhanced signal-to-noise performance.4266_Luxman_L-590AXII_(rear)

The preamp section borrows much technology from Luxman’s flagship C-900u preamplifier, including the LECUA 1000 attenuator circuit, which provides an extremely fine degree of volume control and left/right balance adjustment. Power is rated at 30W per channel into eight ohms, doubling to 60W per channel into four ohms – a healthy output for a pure Class A design, with sufficient power on tap to drive any loudspeakers of suitable quality.

The L-590AXII’s high-inertia power supply circuit features a substantial transformer. A high-capacity block capacitor contributes to the amp’s ability to deliver abundant power instantaneously yet, while its low-impedance transmission design, fully optimised signal paths deliver “maximum sonic fidelity”.

The L-590AXII includes bass and treble tone adjustment, a ‘loudness’ control for low- level listening, a ‘line straight’ button that bypasses the tone controls, and phase selection for the balanced inputs. Turntable users are well catered for, as befits the current vinyl revival, with an onboard phono stage switchable for MM and MC cartridge types. A headphone output is also included.4265_Luxman_L-590AXII_(internal)

In classic Luxman style, the L-590AXII’s fascia sports two illuminated VU meters, one for each channel, giving a real-time indication of signal level. Around the back are six line-level inputs (four single- ended RCA and two balanced XLR) alongside the phono input for turntables, plus two sets of heavy-duty speaker binding posts. Also present are record-out, monitor-in and pre-out terminals, an external preamp input for integration with an AV system, and two remote output terminals for integrated system control.

The Luxman L-590AXII integrated stereo amplifier is available from selected audio retailers from January 2016, priced at £6,995.

 

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Sennheiser’s new reference-level HD 800 S headphone will make its UK debut at the headroom show (January 29th30th 2016 ). Headroom is a unique two-day experience that brings together the world’s leading portable audio manufacturers and showcases the latest products, technology and trends within an exclusive environment: Europe’s foremost recording and mastering studios, Metropolissenny

The new £1,200 HD 800 S is precision-built in Germany and features a striking industrial design. Its transducer is encased by stainless steel, while the headband and headphone mounting utilises advanced materials developed for the aerospace industry, giving high strength with minimal weight. Its layered-metal headband construction attenuates vibrations to the ear-cups, while the hand-made Microfiber ear-pads offer exceptional comfort, even over extended listening periods.

 

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THIEL Audio (Venetian suite 30-110) will be showcasing the latest generation SmartSub™ 1.12 at CES 2016.Thiel-Logo-2014

The latest generation SmartSub from THIEL will feature app-based control and advanced room correction, paired with a THIEL long excursion 12-inch driver and DSP-controlled 1250 watt amplifier.

  • Connects to your Wi-Fi network for phone/tablet app-based control
  • Six User-accessible Sound Mode Presets
  • SmartSub XT Processing—the THIEL SmartSub 1.12 employs a sophisticated acoustic correction algorithm to precisely adjust onboard parametric equalization to help the SmartSub overcome acoustic challenges defined by the dimensions of the room
  • The THIEL SmartSub 1.12 employs a proprietary long-excursion 12-inch woofer featuring a rigid cast frame and an aluminium cone
  • THIEL employed an energy efficient DSP-controlled switching amplifier, capable of delivering 1250 watts of continuous power. This amplifier has been engineered for performance and reliability, utilizing an onboard digital signal processor (DSP) to monitor the signal and keep the amplifier and 12-inch driver running optimally during playback while preventing either from being overdriven
  • The THIEL SmartSub offers the flexibility of either wired or wireless connectivity to the audio system
  • THIEL’s SmartSub technology delivers advanced PC control software, enabling access to control of advanced settings such as low and high-pass filter adjustments, phase adjustments, 5-Band Parametric EQ and SmartSub™ XT Auto EQ parameters in the SmartSub app.
  • The most commonly used features of the subwoofer are available to all users via a basic yet elegant infrared (IR) remote control (included). The IR remote provides control of system power, volume, muting, input source, and sound mode

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Fezz Audio are based in Poland and make the Fezz Audio Silver Luna valve amplifier. The basis for the creation of the whole Fezz Audio project is a family business known as Toroidy.pl who supplies mains transformers to a myriad of audio companies and they have partnered with a host of well known brands including inter alia, Mytek (the “Manhattan DAC”), Lampizator, Amare Musica, Audio Valve, Ancient Audio, WILE, and Baltlab.fezz1

“A few years ago we have decided to create something that would change the “rules of the game”, break the stereotype. It was supposed to be a Toroidal Speaker Output Transformer, but one that is destined to work in “Single Ended” designs. We succeeded. The design work pertaining to such a construct lasted three years. During that time, we developed a unique toroidal core and winding production technology. Thanks to those developments, we are now able to design, and what is most important, to produce speaker output transformers for virtually any type of vacuum tube, irrespective of topology type, be it Single-Ended, or Push-Pull” says Maciej Lachowski from the company.fezz3

First the company built the Laura SE amplifier which came out of the company wanting to build a proof-of-concept as the general thinking in the market was that a single-Ended tube amplifier that uses toroidal transformers would not be workable.

The interest in Laura SE at last year’s Warsaw show exceeded the company’s expectations and so the production of speaker output transformers commenced in full swing. But in the meantime Maciej had other ideas along the lines of creating a wholly new commercial brand, designing a vacuum tube based amplifier for retail and positioned at an affordable price-point.

And that is how the Fezz Audio Silver Luna came to be.

Specifications

Maximum output power : 2 x 35W / 8Ω

Circuit type : AB1 class

Output impedance : 4Ω / 8Ω

Inputs : 3 x

RCAHarmonic distortions THD : < 1%

Frequency response : 15Hz-77kHz (-3dB)

Power consumption : 150WAC fuse : 3,15A

TNet weight : 15,3kg

Dimensions : 400x320x165mm

Tubes : EL34 x 4 (power output), ECC83 x 2 (pre-amplifier and power drivers)

 

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CES will arrive in 3 weeks and Jean Marie at Metronome got in touch with Hifi Pig to tell us what they would be up to.

Products the company will have on demonstration will include:

The Music Center 1, the first music server from Métronome. The internal CD player/burner allows CD ripping, and you can store all your downloads on the internal memory disks (from 1 terabyte to optional 8 terabytes).

Numeric inputs : ethernet, 2 USB

Numeric outputs : USB, S/PDIF, AES/EBU, Toslink

Handled formats : FLAC, WAV, DSD, MP3.43_music_center_closeup5_bd

The CD8 S, DSD DAC and top-range CD player CD8 S is the latest generation of integrated devices assuring a double function of DAC and CD player.
“The converter part is completely new on this device, which makes a deep change in the electronic design of our machines” says Metronome. The DAC can now also be used with S/P DIF input as well as with asynchronous USB input.
The CD player is based on the Philips CD Pro transport. The new DAC range from Métronome laboratories was unveiled at CES in January 2015, and includes the latest numeric technologies (DSD 64 to 512). DSD is read in their native form.45_cd8_s_top_front2_lr

The  Kalista® CD transport (model Calypso) will also be there.

 

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Bryston say they have BIG NEWS for CES 2016 but they are keeping decidedly “cagey” about it, saying only that they will be unveiling a new series of products unlike anything the company has introduced in many years.BDA3-2a

These products will be used in an active demo along with the new BDA-3 DAC. And there are more new products that they are hopeful to showcase in Venetian 29-308.

Pro-Ject Audio Systems have completely  renovated their popular RPM series of turntables throughout the course of 2015. The final adjustment to the range has now been confirmed, in the form of the brand new RPM 5 Carbon.

Designed to replace the award-winning RPM 5, the RPM 5 Carbon takes a technological, audible and aesthetic leap on from the standard set by its predecessor.PJ-Phono-RPM5Carbon-Red

The plinth and  decoupled-motor design has been chosen due to the performance benefits discovered with the range-topping RPM 9 Carbon and RPM 10 Carbon. The low-resonance plinth is finished with a premium quality gloss and topped with carbon fibre. The chassis contains a new inverted platter bearing with ceramic ball for minimal rumble. The whole plinth sits on top of three adjustable spiked feet to further keep resonance away from the record  surface.

The thick acrylic platter is acoustically inert, to ensure the purest playback of any vinyl record. The platter is driven by a fully-detached 15V AC motor, to offer a smooth and consistent rotation thanks to the, DC-driven AC generator built into the motor housing.

The RPM 5 Carbon is supplied with the 9CC Evolution tonearm pre-installed. The 9CC Evolution boasts a 9” one-piece carbon fibre tube and inverted bearing design. The heavyweight assembly and TPE-damped counterweights ensure unwanted resonances are swiftly drawn away from the signal wires. The tonearm is terminated to a junction box, and a quality set of RCA interconnect cables are supplied in the box.

The RPM 5 Carbon is available in three high-gloss paint finishes – black, red and white. UK customers can also have a Quintet Black cartridge pre-installed by their dealer for an additional £400.00, saving

£249.00. The RPM 5 Carbon is supplied with a screw-on record clamp.

SRP £899.00

The RPM 5 Carbon is available in the UK now.

Read the Hifi Pig interview with the President of Pro-Ject Heinz Lichtenegger

 

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C-screen is a brand new shielded speaker cable aimed at both audio and home cinema systems. It joins the line up of Chord Company shielded speaker cables, including the Clearway and the Signature Reference.

Chord’s design objective was to produce a cable discreet enough for easy installation, with all the performance benefits that shielding can bring. C-screen is just 8mm in diameter and flexible enough to route around corners with ease. It’s finished with a white outer jacket which protects the shielding and makes it virtually invisible against white skirting boards.

C-screen features multi-stranded oxygen-free copper conductors, insulated with low-density polyethylene and arranged in a twisted-pair configuration to reduce interference. The cable is then enclosed in a PVC casing that aims to reduce mechanical noise and spaces the conductors correctly, relative to the twin-foil shielding.

C-screen has the same characteristics as Chord’s other shielded speaker cables the company say: “the ability to carry a musical signal with a genuine sense of musical coherence and involvement; shielded speaker cables bring real performance benefits to both hi-fi and home cinema systems, where interference can seriously affect sound quality”.

At £5 per metre C-screen is said to be an ideal product for home cinema systems, where often complex cable-run requirements are the norm. 

C-screen is priced at £5p/m unterminated (off the reel). Factory and dealer terminations are available for a supplement.

 

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If second hand hifi and vintage audio is your thing then you could do worse than check out the upcoming AudioJumble that will take place on Sunday 21st February at the Angel Centre, Tobridge in Kent. These are always well attended and well talked about events and a great place to pick up that bargain or rarity that you’ve been hankering after.

Qudioju;blepicYou can also find second hand hifi on our pages here.

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“The Platinum II project has produced the most accurate and beautiful loudspeakers Monitor Audio has ever made” says the company’s recent press release, continuing “ Platinum II is a mix of evolutionary refinement and discovery, offering genuine audiophile performance with simply stunning design and materials specification”.ma-pl-ii-group-rgb_23353925059_o

For the first time in a Monitor Audio speaker, Platinum II deploys a new MPD (Micro Pleated Diaphragm) high frequency transducer, supported by next-generation RDT ®II bass and mid drivers, improved crossover design and bespoke speaker terminal designs.

The new seven-model line-up premieres the luxury flagship PL500 II tower; two further floor standing models, the PL300 II and PL200 II; the PL100 II stand-mount monitor; matching centre-channel speakers in two sizes: the PLC350 II and PLC150 II, and a 1400W, twin 15” subwoofer:  the PLW-215.

PL100 II

Compact 2-way monitor design using a single 6.5” RDTII bass-mid driver, and MPD tweeter. Bespoke floor stand available separately. MSRP: £3,150 pair

PL200 II

Compact 3-way/4 driver floor-standing system using twin 6.5” RDTII long-throw bass drivers, a 4” RDT II mid-range driver in a sealed TLE enclosure and MPD high frequency transducer. MSRP: £6,300 pair

PL300 II

3-way/4 driver tower system using twin 8” RDTII long-throw bass drivers, a 4” RDT II mid-range driver in a sealed TLE enclosure and MPD high frequency transducer. MSRP: £8,000 pair

PL500 II

Flagship 3-way/7 driver tower system using four 8” RDTII long-throw bass drivers, twin 4” RDT II mid-range drivers in a M-T-M array with a MPD high frequency transducer. MSRP: £15,000 pair

PLC150 II

A 2.5-way/3 driver centre-channel system matching the PL100 II and PL200 II models, using a single 6.5” RDT II bass driver, single 6.5” RDT II bass-mid driver and MPD high frequency transducer. Bespoke floor stand available separately. MSRP: £2,100 each

PLC350 II

A 3-way/4 driver centre-channel system matching the PL300 II and PL500 II models, using twin 8” RDT II bass drivers, single 4” RDT II mid-range driver and MPD high frequency transducer. Bespoke floor stand available separately. MSRP: £3,150 each

PLW-215 sub

A sealed twin 15” active subwoofer system featuring:  opposing individually powered C-CAM drivers / 1400W continuous and 2000W peak / 172MHz DSP Core / 4 fully configurable user presets / auto room EQ per preset from panel or via PC/tablet through proprietary SubConnect App / LED display / night mode. MSRP: £3,500 each 

The Platinum II range will receive its world premiere at the CES show, Las Vegas, 6-9 January 2016, at the Venetian, Suite 29-140 on Wednesday January 6 between 17:00 and 21:00

Availability: February 2016

 

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Estelon celebrates its 5th anniversary with the launch of a new product “Model YB”

It’s been a successful five years for Estelon the company’s latest press release says. Each year a new model has been introduced to the X Series, leading to numerous awards and recognitions worldwide, the most prominent of which has been the Estelon’s flagship “Extreme” which Hifi Pig was lucky enough to experience at Munich High-End and it is bot extreme and amazing in sound and concept.

Years of research and development have led to a new handmade line of products called “Y Series” which compared to the X Series, represents new design, materials and technologies.estelonyb

The first product from the Y Series – Model YB – has now been revealed. “Its sculpture like elegant design by Alfred Vassilkov once again brings freshness to the loudspeaker market”  The left and right speakers are asymmetric and designed as a matching pair. “The elegant twists heading in opposite directions make these speakers look like jewels in exquisite interiors”.

“The sound they deliver meets Estelon’s highest standards. It is pure, natural and life-like. It re-creates the original soundscape and makes the music sound unbelievably real, making you believe that “You are there”, at the concert” the company say.

Technical Data:

3-way (Drivers: 8” Woofer, 5,25“ Mid-woofer, 1” Beryllium Tweeter; with removable grilles); Frequency Response: 30 – 40 000 Hz

Power Rating: 150 W

Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms

Sensitivity: 86dB/2,83 V

Dimensions (HxWxD): 1285x365x430mm

Net Weight: 40kg per piece.

Speaker cabinets are cast of composite material.

Manufacturer’s recommended price in Europe for Model YB is €15 900.

Standard finish is Black Matte. Black Gloss and White Gloss available at €16 900.

Preorders start now, estimated shipping from March 31st, 2016.

 

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ECLIPSE will be demonstrating its flagship TD series loudspeaker at CES 2016, along with its range-topping subwoofer in a multichannel system that showcases the brand’s ‘accurate sound’ technology.TD712zMK2_img_inter_02

Visitors to the ECLIPSE suite at the Venetian Tower (suite 25 – 219) will also be able experience the TD-M1 desktop-orientated home audio system, which offers wireless music playback from both Android and iOS devices (via AirPlay). ECLIPSE will also have a number of other key models from its TD series at CES 2015, including: TD510ZMK2/TD510MK2; TD508MK3 and TD307MK2A, plus the TD520SW subwoofer.

The multichannel system will comprise the TD712ZMK2 and TD510ZMK3 speakers, plus the flagship TD725SWMK2 subwoofer. Electronics will be supplied by Onkyo and Pioneer with 2L of Norway supplying Blu-ray Audio content.

 

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The MunroSonic EGG150 is a £2000 active monitoring system with a twist. Dan Worth takes a listen to this egg shaped speaker and tells us if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. munroeggs1

“There’s no denying that the EGG150s are a very musical speaker and criticisms although tough are based on my experience with many other active speakers and the ones I currently own which offer qualities I just don’t think the Munros posses and for me it’s aligned with the mid/bass driver and the use of the rubber nests, as when a friend held one up in the air the colouration minimised to a very nice level that with the correct stands and supports would transform this speaker from good to great and match its top end beautifully.”

Read the full review of the MunroSonic EGG150 Active Monitoring Loudspeakers here. 

 

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After reviewing the Merrill Audio Veritas monobloc power amplifiers in January 2015 Stuart Smith auditioned the American company’s $4800 Thor amps. THOR2S

“Regular readers will remember I reviewed the Merrill Audio Veritas amps back in January of 2015 commenting “Hard to fault in my opinion but I just don’t give perfect tens. Had I the means to buy the review amps I certainly would.” Sadly my financial situation didn’t allow me to make the purchase and so, after speaking with Merrill and him assuring me that the Thors, despite their much more achievable pricepoint offered up a good percentage of what the Veritas would…he also mentioned that many people have found distinguishing the two very difficult.”

Read the full review of the Merrill Audio Thor monobloc power amplifiers here. 

 

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“As music lovers, we’re spoilt for choice. Our favorite tunes are now available in a wider variety of formats than ever before. But whether you’re a vinyl collector, a digital convert or a die hard reel-to-reel aficionado, one thing’s agreed: nothing can ever sound – or feel – quite like an original analogue master tape. Unfortunately, unless you’re in the band or own the record label, you’re unlikely to ever hear one, right?” That’s quite an opening gambit for a press release but, having met the guys behind the Horch House project, it’s one that is somewhat justified…read on.

Austria-based Horch House was created for the sole purpose of bringing the magic of analogue master tapes to music lovers in a variety of formats. Long negotiations with music publishers have been involved, followed by detailed research into the highest level of equipment and processes to capture that magic and deliver it via direct, faithful, fully licensed and approved copies. Horch House master tape copies

As a result, Horch House are now delighted offering the original master tape experience on reel-to-reel tapes, audiophile-grade vinyl records and in three high-resolution digital formats: 24 bit/96kHz and 24 bit/192kHz each in WAV, and DSD in DFF.

To translate original analogue master tapes into faithful copies, Horch House’s team of sound engineers use a painstaking process that has been meticulously researched and developed in collaboration with some of the world’s leading experts (think of specialists whose client lists include Sir Paul McCartney, Sony and Abbey Road Studios and you get a sense of the level of know-how involved).

The first step is to carefully assess the sound quality of each original master tape. Tapes age over time and most analogue masters are now between 30-80+ years old. What Horch House are looking to do, therefore, as an integral part of the copying process, is to restore the sound quality back to its original level. This ‘soft refurbishing’ process is in stark contrast to any kind of ‘remastering’ (which they most definitely do not do).

Horch House sound engineer Christoph Stickel has a remarkable knowledge of the complex elements underpinning the audio quality of an analogue master tape, enabling him to assess, understand and restore a tape’s original quality and achieve the correct tonal balance according to whether it was recorded 30, 40 or 50 years ago. No mixing desks, sound processors, limiters or compressors are used in the process. It’s an entirely analogue approach, using only analogue tools. No additional stages are introduced into the signal path, so virtually nothing is lost while the original beauty and character of the original recording are fully regained.

Stickel will typically begin by making analogue and digital test copies of the original master so that he can spend as many hours as needed to perfect his refurbishing strategy without overworking the irreplaceable original tape. Fine adjustments are made by ear and by hand to the company’s small bank of top-of-range Studer playback and recording machines (which are checked and measured daily to ensure consistently excellent quality), with Stickel exhaustively tweaking, testing and re-tweaking to replicate the parameters that produced the original recording. Only when an absolutely optimal result has been achieved will the ‘soft refurbished’ master tape copies then be made from the precious original – in small batches of just eight, in real time, and with constant quality monitoring throughout.

Audiophile-grade vinyl records are then created directly from one of the newly-refurbished master tape copies.

In creating digital copies, Horch House’s selection of equipment and attention to detail are as painstaking as those used in their analogue processes. No computers are used; each file is created entirely ‘natively’, converting directly from the refurbished master tape copy into each format separately, never compressing from one format to another. A Studer A80 is fed into one of two top-of-range analogue to digital converters, and then both machines are finely adjusted to achieve the best possible result for each specific format. Both of the studio-grade analogue to digital converters use an atomic clock rather than the standard quartz clock in order to guarantee complete synchronization with the recording machine.

An impressive list of record labels and publishers, including Warner Classics, Sony Classics, Universal and Deutsche Grammophon, already support the Horch House project and more are currently in negotiation. “Our current catalogue is just the beginning,” says music producer and joint Horch House owner, Thilo Berg. “I’m keen to speak to any and every music publisher in the business with a view to delivering the widest possible portfolio of high quality analogue master tape copies to as many people as we can”.

Prices range between 300-600 Euros for reel-to-reel tapes, 20-180 Euros for audiophile-grade vinyl records and 25-215 Euros for high-resolution digital formats (24 bit/96kHz and 24 bit/192kHz each in WAV, and DSD in DFF).

 

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French company Lefson have been in touch with us to tell us about their C-MOD products which Lefson says acts exactly like a coupling capacitor, but give better audio results. All are designed and assembled in their workshop in Northern France and available in three varieties:

– C-MOD : for small audio signals (Instr, Mic/Line), low voltage coupling ( example : phono preamplifier)
– C-MOD HV : for small audio signals (Instr, Mic/Line), high voltage coupling ( example : Tube Preamplifier)
– C-MOD SPK : for high level/current audio signals (Speaker crossover/filter)

lefson

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Audeze, the headphone manufacturer based in California, announces the release of its new EL-8 Titanium Headphones, its first with a fully integrated Apple Lightning cable with a built-in headphone amplifier and 24-bit DAC.qudewetit

Keeping with the Audeze aesthetic, the EL-8 Titanium headphones were designed by BMW DesignWorksUSA and feature an aluminium construction.

The EL-8 Titanium headphones come with an exclusive Lightning cable that streams a complete 24-bit digital signal through a DSP and DAC to. The built in microphone can be used for phone calls and Siri voice control. An accompanying Audeze app can be used to apply EQ and sound presets.

For non-Apple device compatibility, the headphones also include a standard analogue cable.

The EL-8 Titanium headphones will be available in select Apple stores in US and Canada and online December 8th 2015 for $799.95.

Specifications

Style                                      Closed-back circumaural

Transducer type                      Planar magnetic

Magnetic structure                   Fluxor magnets

Magnet type                            Neodymium

Driver Size                              100 mm

Maximum power handling         15W (for 200ms)

Maximum SPL                        >130dB

Frequency response                10Hz – 50kHz

Total harmonic distortion         <0.1% (1KHz, 1mw)

Impedance                              30 ohms

Efficiency                               100dB / 1mW

Optimal power requirement       200mW – 4W

Weight                                   480g

 

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The headroom show, which offers music lovers the opportunity to discover the largest range of demonstrable headphones in the UK, is returning to London in January 2016. The unique two-day experience brings together the world’s leading headphone manufacturers and showcases the latest products, technology and trends in portable audio.

Held in Europe’s most prestigious recording and mastering studios, Metropolis, where artists such as Rihanna, Michael Jackson and U2 have made music, and Adele’s 25 was recorded, headroom offers an exclusive audio experience that’s refreshingly unique.

The event runs from Friday 29th to Saturday 30th January, at Metropolis, Chiswick, and features the very best in portable audio tech, plus the opportunity to try and buy with special discounts, promotions and exclusive offers.
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Universal Music Catalogue announces the January 2016 release of Deep Purple ‘The Vinyl Collection’.deeppurplr2

This 7-LP collection features the groups’ albums spanning the period 1972-1987, re-mastered from the original tapes (including the first official re-masters of titles, Perfect Strangers and The House Of The Blue Light) pressed on 180gm vinyl, they come complete with original inserts within replica sleeves and are housed together in a sturdy, deluxe box. Each album will also be made available as a stand-alone title.deeppurpl1

Formed in Hertford, England in 1968, Deep Purple are widely considered, alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, as pioneers of heavy metal and modern rock. Still active today, the group has survived many line-up changes over the years and have launched the careers of many high-ranking rock performers, including Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale and Ian Gillan.

The Vinyl Collection
Machine Head
Who Do We Think We Are
Burn
Stormbringer
Come Taste the Band
Perfect Strangers
The House of the Blue Light

 

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French loudspeaker maker Triangle have announced a gaggle of subwoofers which the company says successfully blend performance and compactness.

Thetis & Tales subwoofers feature 21 and 25cm drivers, with long throw enabling a frequency response as low as 25Hz. The cabinets have been specially designed in order to remove vibrations and avoid distortion.

The subwoofers are equipped with class D amplifiers of 150 to 250 RMS (400W peak) for a deep and tight low register rarely seen in such compact subwoofers. The stereo RCA inputs enable you to adjust the crossover on your subwoofer with a frequency roll-off ranging from 30Hz to 120Hz for an optimal balance of your system.

The Thetis series also offer an LFE input leaving the crossover function to your home-theatre amplifier, as well as high-level inputs for amplifiers with no “subwoofer” output. The subwoofers include the following features: volume control, cut-off frequency, phase switch and automatic standby. The Thetis models feature an LED display indicating the sound level and all is controlled via the remote.

THETIS 320

The Thetis 320 subwoofer has a closed cabinet, equipped with an 10” driver with half roll suspension. In order to reduce vibrations, the cabinet has been carefully designed with ingeniously placed internal reinforcements.thetis320-2

Equipped with a class D amplifier of 250-watt RMS and 400 watt peak power it also features a remote control and a sound level indicator on the front panel so you can adjust the subwoofer.

THETIS 280

The Thetis 280 subwoofer also has a closed cabinet but is equipped with an 8.25” driver with half roll suspension and with a class D amplifier of 150-watt RMS and 250 watt peak power.thetis280-3

TALES 340

Tales 340 offers a reasonably priced subwoofer with “great performance improving your system in terms of punch and dynamics”. This subwoofer is equipped with a 10” driver with half roll suspension and a class D amplifier of 200-watt RMS (350-watt peak power). tales340-2

 

 

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PRYMA is a new headphone brand marrying “world-class sound quality with a luxurious sense of style”. Its first product is the PRYMA 01, handmade in Italy with premium materials and impeccable attention to detail which the company’s press release says to matches the finest bags, watches and shoes. Interchangeable leather headbands with belt-style buckles make the PRYMA 01 a uniquely customisable fashion accessory as well as being engineered by Sonus faber – PRYMA’s sister brand – to deliver “sumptuous sound”.4230_PRYMA_Headphones_(Coffee_&_Cream)

Design Highlights

  • Removable headband fashioned from high-quality leather with breathable microfibre interior. The leather is the same as used by luxury bag brand Bottega Veneta
  • Copper and stainless steel buckles
  • Lightweight aluminium ear cup body with fingerprint-free coating
  • Removable ear pads, magnetically bonded to ear cups
  • Available in five distinct colour combinations: Coffee & Cream, Pure Black, Heavy Gold, Rose Gold & Grey, and Carbon Marsala
  • Additional headbands may be purchased separately; replacement ear pads will follow
  • 100% made in Italy4234_PRYMA_Headphones_(Coffee_&_Cream)

Technical Details

  • Circumaural, closed-back ear cup design
  • 2x 40mm dynamic drivers with Mylar diaphragms, neodymium magnets and oversized voice coils
  • Removable 1.3m cable with 99.99% oxygen-free copper conductors, gold-plated connectors and in-line microphone for handsfree phone calls
  • Frequency range: 10Hz-25kHz
  • Sensitivity: 118dB
  • Impedance: 32 Ohms

Pryma say  “It’s easy to see young people around the world buying headphones not only for listening to music but also to wear as a fashion accessory,” said Livio Cucuzza, PRYMA’s head of design. “Our thoughts were that maybe the world needs more than plastic headphones. Here in Italy, there are a lot of artisans that make bags for luxury brands, so for us it was quite easy to find the right inspiration.”4238_PRYMA_Headphones_(Heavy_Gold_buckle_detail)

In the UK, PRYMA 01 headphones are available exclusively at Selfridges for a limited period. Other luxury stores and premium audio retailers will follow in 2016.UK distribution is by Absolute Sounds.

Four of the five colour combinations – Coffee & Cream, Pure Black, Heavy Gold, and Rose Gold & Grey – are priced at £379.99. The Carbon Masala option costs an additional £30.

 

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Ian at HMF Solutions brought this rather splendid looking turntable to our attention. It’s the Acoustical Systems “The APOLYT” and it’s limited to just twenty two units worldwide.apolytpic

As well as a host of other innovative features the APOLYT features a unique custom designed air-suspension system which is “based on optical table designs, but featuring a most advanced air-spring-capacitor-induction suspension system with a resulting resonance frequency below 0.5 Hz.”

It has up to 4 of these tonearm bases offering the user great flexibility and choice of tonearm/cartridge combinations.

The APOLYT is designed and manufactured in Germany.

Technical specifications:

– platter weight: 58 kg

– chassis weight: 188 kg

– 4 motors – motors weight 26 kg

– powersupply weight: 38 kg

– net weight: 388 kg

– shipping weight: 580 kg (delivery in 8 flight cases)

– dimensions (w x d x h): 108 cm x 69 cm x 128 cm

– wow & flutter: below 0.01% (W.R.M.S)

– speed: 33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm – all speeds w/ precise adjustment option

– operation voltage: DC-operation and selectable 100 / 120 / 220 / 230 / 240 V – 50/60 Hz

– drive: belt drive, custom aramide belt AND symmetrical idler-drive

– power consumption in operation: 0 W, in re-charge logic mode: 120 Watt

Adjustments:

– user choice / selectable: 1, 2, 3 or 4 arm bases

– user adjustable – build-in – air flow and air pressure for optional air-bearing tonearm

– user adjustable tuning resonance frequency

Features:

– automatic levelling

– optional 2 shelves incorporated for phono stage / line stage – full isolated within the air spring frame.

– platter based on bi-radial, full aero-static, air-bearing – vertical and horizontal.

– complete plinth and optional integrated rack suspended on true air-spring-induction-field suspension with resonance frequency below 0.5 Hz.

– speed quartz controlled and user adjustable +/- 5%.

– double belt drive AND double idler-drive – user selectable and engaging/disengaging on push button.

– center of moving mass resting in bearing plane.

– platter inertia 38x of Micro Seiki SX-8000 platter.

– compound platter featuring definite energy transfer and internal liquid dampening.

– center of platter mass identical with plane of bearing/rotation = perfect resting mass principle.

– compound arm bases with identical energy transfer concept as platter.

– super fast exchange of arm boards.

– no possible build-up of static energy during play.

– both double motor-drives powered by custom amplifier and pure DC-power supply.

(battery sourced with automatic recharging and automatic redundant AC-power supply)

Options: 

– optional additional speeds: 16 2/3 rpm and 78 rpm

– optional wooden or smoked glass side panels – detachable

– optional rack front cover choice of prime wood veneer or smoked glass

– acrylic dust cover

– optional 24kt plating or polished chrome finish on selected parts (frame, dome caps)

 

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An exciting electro-acoustic collaboration from two of the UK’s foremost contemporary composers, ‘Scanni’ fuses the sensibilities of pianist and celebrated arranger Anni Hogan (Marc & The Mambas, Marc Almond) with the avante-garde noise production and curation of celebrated electronic musician and sampler Scanner across ten tracks that feature a wealth of guest musicians and vocalists from the alternative music scene. Martin Bowes (Attrition) co-wrote and plays drone synths on the track ‘Alone’. Wolfgang Flür, legendary ex-Kraftwerk percussionist and performance artist, provides lyric and vocals for the track ‘Golden Light’. Jarboethe lauded singer from the Swans appears on two tracks, ‘Carelessly’ and ‘Cinecittà’. Further guest appearances from cult singers Jennifer John, Kate Smith and Merseyside legend Thomas Lang.SCQNNI

Over their unique and rather individualistic careers, both Anni Hogan and Scanner have produced work that has joined the dots between Marc Almond and Nick Cave, Bryan Ferry and Bjork, contemporary dance and theatre, literature and visual arts. ‘Scanni’ is the result of their first collaboration and, over the last two years, the tracks therein have emerged from a committed and piecemeal exchange of digital files into an accomplished complex multi-genre work of affecting beauty.

Along this journey they both lost family in a real-life rollercoaster of tragedy and confusion; this is reflected in the ‘hall of mirrors’ that is the track ‘Glorious’, where a spirituality rises to the surface to embrace both the melancholy and the beauty of heartbreak. It’s also evident in the pensive contemplation of ‘Alone’, the very first piece they collaborated on.

In contrast, there’s the heartiest track ‘A Life Well Lived’, with its positive energy and beguiling optimism, and ‘Future’, a well-cooked funky discotonic tune, both of which offer a way forward, out of the darker moments, and into light and hope.

‘Scanni’ offers an aesthetic of faith and of possibility; it is music that has reawakened both artists to explore new directions in their own sensibilities and creativity. In many ways, the record is about the timeless qualities of love, loss and friendship, all of which imbue the singular artistic endeavours and joint working relationship that, ultimately, is ‘Scanni’.

 

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KJ West One announce that they are now stocking the Stax ‘earspeakers’ range. They have a number of models now available for demonstration in store, including the only pair of their flagship SR-009 headphones in London.DSC07958-edit-small

The London store currently have the SR-009 and SR-007 MKII earspeakers and the SRM-007tII Kimik energiser available to try and are expecting the new SR-L500 headphones and SRM-353X energiser soon. DSC07949-edit-small

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Mad Scientist Audio Ltd has released a range of what their recent press release is calling  “innovative” audio cables that use carbon fibers in the signal path.  The New Zealand based company say this technology brings benefits like “immunity from skin effect, much smaller Eddy currents, which are quickly dissipated, and in the digital cable, absorption of jitter-causing
internal reflections”.torfb1

The Heretical Digital Cable

The Heretical Digital Cable (HDC), so-named because it makes no claim to
have 75-ohm impedance, takes a different approach. Mad Scientist say that in regular cables it’s possible for internal reflections to bounce up and down the cable many times, causing cable jitter but by using a resistive carbon fiber signal conductor, the HDC prevents this by turning these to heat.
Costs $99 for one meter  (introductory price until end 2015).

Range of Interconnects

The RCA, single-ended interconnect range also use a carbon fibre signal
conductor, but differ in construction and ground wire materials.  Another
innovation is the “Audio Block”, made from New Zealand native Rimu wood, it holds a pair of Mad Scientist Magic Tubes and a laser etched directional
arrow. Magic Tubes “are an enhancement device that uses subatomic phenomena to improve the sound quality” say the company. The tubes can be easily removed if the effect is not desired.

ATOH Interconnect

The entry level ATOH uses Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) single crystal copper  ground wire, and starts at $269 for 0.7 meter pair.

YANAM Interconnect

YANAM (mid level) and TORFORB (high end) use the same construction – multi element ground system using foil plus copper and silver OCC wires.

The YANAM uses copper foil and Neotech OCC wires.

Starts at $499 for 0.7 meter pair.

TORFORB Interconnect

TORFORB takes this one step further, using silver (or optionally silver and
gold) foil, plus low volume specially-produced copper and silver OCC wires
for the ground system. Prices start at $1099.

ATOH, YANAM and TORFORB are available with a selection of RCA plugs
including Sonarquest Carbon/Rhodium, KLE Innovations Copper Harmony and Silver Harmony. Others available on request.

 

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