Zesto Audio Will debut their Eros 300 Monobloc amps at this year’s RMAF.
Eros 300 is a pure Class A design offering 150 watts per amp with both 4 and 8 Ohm taps. It has SpeakOn and standard loudspeaker binding posts and uses a push-pull ultra-linear design with no negative feedback.
Valve compliment per amp is a matched sextet of KT88s and two gold pin ECC82s (12AU7).
Each unit is handmade in the USA and costs $19 900 per pair.
Trenner & Friedl from Germany and makers of a range of six loudspeakers have revamped their website.
This new website is now the company’s Mark IV version and is a complete new design offering:
Romanian manufacturer Rockna Audio say they are proud to announce their new Wavedream DAC series.
There are 2 main models in the Wavedream series omprising of:
Each version can be ordered in single ended or balanced configuration and In addition to the Femtovox clock system, both Edition and Signature benefit from a new discrete output stage and improved power supply section.
RD-1 module has a 26-bit ladder structure, while RD-0 is a 27 bit ladder structure. Both are FPGA-based, meaning they have their own (upgradable) firmware.
New Wavedream firmware will feature a new powerful upsampler (custom made using DSP blocks) to 768k (apodizing response) and will add DSD256 support.
Cabasse is introducing new colours to the MT32 range of loudspeakers to bring contemporary finishes to the range. The MT32 range will now be available in a gloss white and gloss black to bring the modern look to the speakers.
The MT32 range includes four models, for use in two-channel or multi-channel systems: the Alderney and Jersey floorstanders, Antigua stand-mount model, Socoa centre channel and a complementary active subwoofer, the Orion.
Christophe Cabasse comments, “The MT 32 range is perfectly faithful to the Cabasse principles of coherency between direct and reflected sounds, respect of timbre and dynamic range, deep and stable soundstage, musicality and live-sound. Be it the radio, internet, high definition networked audio files or multichannel tracks on the home cinema, all formats have been taken into account, in order to offer, each and every time, musicality, precision and realism.” He concludes, “Now the range has more colours to choose from, they are sure to fit perfectly in any surrounding”.
Prices MSRP (inc. VAT)
Alderney MT32 (floorstanding) £1199 per pair in glossy black/white or ebony/walnut
Jersey MT32 (floorstanding): £899 per pair in glossy black/white or ebony/walnut
Antigua MT32 (stand mount): £499 per pair in glossy black/white or ebony/walnut
Socoa MT32 (centre channel): £339 per unit in glossy black/white or ebony/walnut
The Clarity Alliance has returned from a hugely successful National Audio Show, having presented its “Best of Show Awards”, overseen the popular seminar sessions, showcased its members products and staged the sell out UK exclusive preview of “Queen: The Studio Collection”.
After very careful consideration, the following exhibitors were nominated and winners selected:
“Best Demonstration”
Mike Valentine (winner)
Queen
Entotem
“Most Innovative”
Townshend Audio (winner)
Devialet
Kog Audio – Melco
“Best Presented Room”
Devlialet (winner)
Queen
Audio Emotion
“Best Stand in Open Areas”
Harmen Audio (winner)
High End Headphones
Snugs
“Overall Best of Show”
dCS (winner)
Hi-Fi Hangar
Queen
Devialet
The show organisers presented Henley Designs with an award for the “Best Pre Show Marketing” by an exhibitor.
Clarity was also responsible for the presentation of the very popular series of seminars that ran throughout the weekend. The presenters, Simon Dalton of Russ Andrews, Nick Allen from AudioQuest and David Shevyn of GIK Acoustics, spoke on topics as diverse as: “What Are You Listening For?”, “Computer Audio Demystified” and “The Importance of Acoustic Treatment for Listening Rooms”.
Members of Clarity also took advantage of the opportunity to display their latest products in the “Clarity Members’ Showcase”. Entotem, GIK Acoustics, Mitchell and Johnson, Fanthorpes, Cabasse, MBAco, Heed Audio, Kleio and Parasound all reported that a great reception was received for their displays from the show visitors – a clear demonstration of the worth of this tangible benefit of their Clarity membership.
Presenting the UK exclusive preview of “Queen: The Studio Collection” to the show goers brought a real sense of drama to the occasion and a whole new audience to the National Audio Show. Promoted to the audiophile audience that Universal Music wanted to reach for the launch of the 18 disc vinyl box set and via the Queen Fan Club, the original two performances quickly sold out and had to be boosted by the addition of two more equally popular sessions. Clarity manufacturer and distributor members supplied the playback equipment, including the colossal PMC MB2 XBD-A active monitors as used at Abbey Road Studios for the vinyl mastering process, which enabled the audience of around 400 people, over the course of the weekend, to hear every nuance and detail of the meticulously re-mastered 15 studio albums. Phil Hansen, Clarity marketing director, presented the sessions, with the invaluable assistance of Mike Bonnette from The Multi-Room Company, plus Ralph Ward and Kieran Pickaver from Henley Designs.
Laurence Armstrong, chairman of The Clarity Alliance, said, “We are very proud to have once again been able to recognise the hard work put in by the exhibitors through our ‘Best of Show’ awards. And, in a clear statement of Clarity’s independence and desire to be seen to be working for the good of the whole industry, it is great to see that each of the very worthy winners is in fact not a Clarity member, although we’d love them to join of course!” He continues, “Our relationship with the National Audio Show is going from strength to strength as we continue to help make the show into the must-attend event of the hi-fi calendar. This year we enhanced our offering by taking a much bigger room for the members’ showcase, staging three fantastic seminars each day, booking a really good band for the evening entertainment and putting on what is probably the single biggest attraction seen at any hi-fi show with the launch of Queen’s new box set.”
Classé has announced the expansion of its popular Sigma series to include a new monaural amplifier. The first three Sigma series models, launched earlier this year, were designed to deliver a compelling performance and feature set at prices below the entry level of other high-end brands but within easy reach for anyone considering the top-of-the-line offerings of more mainstream companies. The Sigma MONO broadens the appeal of the Sigma range with a powerful amplifier, conservatively rated at 350W into 8 ohms and 700W into 4 ohms.
“In the short time they’ve been available, our proprietary Sigma series amplifier designs have been showered with praise from numerous audio critics and consumers worldwide, “said Dave Nauber, President of Classé. “The Sigma MONO builds on this innovative platform, pushing the performance to heights that surprised even us – and we’re pretty hard to surprise! 
The pure, effortless sound that is the hallmark of the Sigma MONO derives from an unlikely source: a massive switch mode power supply,” . “Critical portions of the amplifier’s circuitry surpass what is available in the two- and five-channel Sigma models. A new analogue input stage, modifications to the operation of the output stage, and new output filters are employed to optimize the performance of this high-powered monaural amplifier.”
A special pass-thru feature allows the input signal to be forwarded to a second amplifier for bi-amplifying or to drive a subwoofer amplifier. This allows the amplifiers to be located closer to each speaker: a single long interconnect can be used to connect the preamp to the first amp, followed by a short interconnect to the second Sigma MONO – or even a third and a fourth.
The US retail price for the Sigma MONO is $4,000, with availability in October.
Upon request of a team of top class sound engineers, Grimm Audio developed a special version of their acclaimed reference monitor system LS1 for the studio of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
By reducing the height of the integrated stands, a surround set of five LS1’s could be placed in the relatively small but very well designed control room. Due to its special form factor, the LS1 can easily be placed close to a wall without the sound coloration associated with such placement when using traditional speakers.
The result exceeds the highest expectations for sound quality in small rooms says the company’s latest press release. Polyhymnia’s Grammy winning producer Everett Porter: “We auditioned many different speakers for our Concertgebouw studio, and never found any we were really happy with. The Grimm Audio LS1’s came in for a test, and we wouldn’t let them leave! Detailed, transparent, dynamic, clean… Everything we were looking for. They’re used for all of our Concertgebouw (SA)CD & Bluray productions, as well as hundreds of live radio and TV broadcasts per year.
KEF has announced the launch of the MUO, a new wireless Bluetooth speaker.
MUO has been created by KEF in collaboration with award-winning designer Ross Lovegrove, who previously worked with the brand when he designed the Muon loudspeakers – costing £140,000 per pair.
KEF engineers worked with Lovegrove to create a strong moulded internal enclosure to house MUO’s innovative drivers, digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) and other internal components. These are encased in an acoustically inert outer shell of extruded aluminium, with soft rubber feet optimally positioned for MUO to be sat at exactly the right angle for desktop use.
KEF has created an ingenious miniature version of the legendary Uni-Q driver array – used in the Muon, Blade and Reference loudspeaker models – and using the same FEA modeling techniques. Unlike the small drivers in ordinary portable speakers the MUO’s miniaturised Uni-Q driver array decouples the tweeter dome from the outer cone by a flexible membrane. This means the whole diaphragm is free to pump out midrange frequencies as powerfully as a conventional driver, while allowing the tweeter dome to move independently, thus reproducing the higher registers with pinpoint accuracy. The mid/bass cone is profiled to act as a waveguide for the tweeter, further widening the soundstage.
Flanked by the twin driver arrays is a long-throw auxiliary bass radiator, engineered to maintain its rigidity over the entire surface, ensuring it delivers the kind of tight, clean and generous bass extension you’d normally expect from a far larger and more costly product.
You can synchronise a pair of MUOs, to stream stereo sound via Bluetooth aptX. Alternatively, when you want to place them far apart – at a party for example – simply select the ‘Dual Connect’ party mode to replicate the same full-range response in both speakers, so that everybody gets the full benefit of the music you’re playing.
MUO also comes with an internal sensor that automatically optimises its output to suit its orientation. Non-Bluetooth connection is also straightforward, thanks to a 3.5mm Aux input.
Most Android devices will also connect effortlessly to MUO via its NFC ‘Tap-to-Pair’ function: simply hold the device against MUO’s surface and they’ll be paired and ready to stream in seconds. The MUO’s design come in a choice of five suitably cool finishes: Horizon Gold, Storm Grey, Light Silver, Neptune Blue and Sunset Orange.
Denon has announced a new addition to its recently introduced Denon Design Series. The DRA-100 Network Stereo Receiver (£799) has been created for listeners looking for a compact and high quality design. It features next generation music playback options including built-in Wi-Fi for high resolution music streaming, AirPlay, Bluetooth and a host of digital and analogue inputs.
The DRA-100 boasts a 2x 70W digital amplifier incorporating DDFA® technology for ”superior audio fidelity”. A subwoofer pre-out is at hand for adding more bass to the sound. Denon’s original sound technologies such as Advanced AL32 Processing and Master Clock design developed for the company’s premium Hi-Fi components are also included. 
The DRA-100 features Bluetooth & Wi-Fi wireless streaming connectivity out-of-the-box. Once connected to the Internet through the home Wi-Fi network (or with a hard-wired connection via the RJ-45 Ethernet LAN port), music lovers can enjoy their favourite tracks from streaming music service Spotify Connect (where available). They can also choose from thousands of Internet Radio stations around the world. Thanks to the DLNA 1.5 compatibility, music file streaming from a local computer or NAS drive is possible too. The DRA-100 supports MP3, AAC, WMA, and high resolution audio tracks of up to 192-kHz/24-bits (WAV, FLAC, AIFF) along with DSD 2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz files (DSD is the advanced digital audio coding system of SACD). The same file support is given through the front USB port, which in addition can directly play back music from an iDevice in best quality using the DRA-100’s audio circuit. The Bluetooth connectivity features quick and easy pairing to connect and stream music from any compatible portable device. For even faster pairing, the DRA-100 comes with NFC (Near Field Communication). By activating an NFC-enabled Bluetooth device and placing it next to the N mark on the product’s front panel, it’s instantly paired with no need for manual passcode entry. The Denon Hi-Fi Remote App lets you easily control the DRA-100 with your favourite portable device and it’s available for both Apple and Android devices.
There are multiple digital inputs (2 optical and 1 coaxial) for compatibility with digital audio sources along with two analogue stereo inputs for legacy analogue sources. A dedicated headphone amplifier circuit features a high speed ultra-low distortion wideband op amp that’s paired with a fully discrete final output stage. In order to accommodate the widest range of headphone types, the DRA-100 features an adjustable headphone impedance control, with 3 settings for low, medium and high impedance headphones which provide proper matching of headphone impedance and amplifier gain.
The DRA-100 will be available in a black/silver colour finish starting in October.
Following on from last year’s acclaimed I See You album, and the reissue of the classic Camembert Electrique, comes the latest, and arguably greatest set from the Gong catalogue – the Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy, comprising the albums ‘Flying Teapot’, ‘Angels Egg’ and ‘You’ – all newly remastered from the original tapes – and gathered together in lavish, deluxe Box Set and EarBook editions, to be released worldwide by BYG / Charly Records on Friday October 30th 2015.
Maintaining the sound quality and repackaging of 2015’s critically acclaimed ‘Camembert Electrique’ CD and LP remasters each 180-gram heavyweight audiophile vinyl LP has been mastered from the original tapes and cut pure-analogue to lacquers by Matt Colton at Alchemy Studios, while each CD has been digitally remastered by Nick Robbins at SoundMastering Studios.
Both editions feature exclusive content.
The 3-LP Box Set includes four impossibly-rare and out-of-print promotional booklets full of Gong-founder Daevid Allen’s illustrations, his complete trilogy narrative, lyrics and philosophy reproduced as facsimile editions, together with a packed full-colour booklet that includes Daevid’s original LP artwork, full band line-ups, credits, rare photos plus new, in-depth sleeve notes by Mojo magazine’sMark Paytress.
The hardback EarBook edition features sixty pages full of artwork, rare photos, sleeve notes and more, together with a fourth CD of bonus material, including both sides of Gong’s impossible-to-find debut single on BYG Records, released only in France in 1970.
The current Gong line-up set off on a series of concerts in the UK and around the world to presage the Friday October 30th reissue of the legendary ‘RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE TRILOGY’. The UK dates are as follows:
Oct 20: Bilston Robin 2
Oct 21: London Dingwalls
Oct 22: Leicester Musician
Oct 23: Glasgow Audio
Oct 24: Manchester Band On The Wall
Nov 3: Liverpool – The Kazimier
PureAudioProject have got in touch to let us know about a price drop on their open baffle Trio15TB SE. It is now available for US$2,999 in the US and Asia, and EUR2,999 in Europe, featuring the new Aluminium Frame and upgraded OB-A15SE woofers (prices excl. VAT and shipping)
Also existing customers and subscribers to their mailing list can get the following upgrades. Upgrade from the above offer to Trio15TB NEO (featuring their Neodymium OB-A15neo woofers) for only US$200 / EUR200, or upgrades for the Trio15TB:
Trio15 Aluminum Frame for US$799 / EUR799
Set of 4 OB-A15SE for US$399 / EUR399
Set of 4 OB-A15neo woofers for US$499 / EUR399
Danish audio company DALI are getting together with specialist Walsall high-end dealer Sound Academy to host a very special music evening on 23rd of September. There’ll be a live feed to the London launch of the new DALI Opticon series of loudspeakers on but the store is also putting on a special event of its own. Visitors will be getting a unique opportunity to listen to the DALI Epicon 6 speakers (£7800), driven by a Primare PRE60 and A60 amp (both £6499 each) and fed by a Rega ISIS CD player (£6000) and a surprise new turntable (with a pristine 180g copy of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon taking pride of place of the platter!). Naturally, DALI staff will be in attendance to hand out lashings of free food and drink to accompany the music (and answer any questions about DALI!) with the event set to kick off from 5pm until late into the night. Pop in and stay for as little or as long as you like… 
Last but not least, to give audio fans an extra incentive to visit, there will be a free-to-enter draw to give away a pair of the fabulous new DALI Opticon 1 loudspeakers, worth a whopping £500. But please note… the draw will ONLY be open to those who have physically visited the event.
Croatian-based newcomer “Hana-Lab” has recently announced their new audio server plus Class D amp set in a stylish and unusual design.
This versatile fanless audio server has integrated DAC which supports high-resolution playback (configurable with a 24/192 or 32/384 DAC) and a variety of streaming services (Spotify, Internet radio, UPNP/DLNA playback, Airplay, etc.).
It plays most of the usual audio formats (MP3, Flac, Aiff, WAV, etc.) via external USB, or a wide selection of Internet radio stations. It also supports network sources for audio files (NAS or a network share).
The server connects to network via Ethernet cable or wirelessly (Wi-Fi), and the network connection is very easy to set up say the company.
The server can be controlled by smartphone or tablet, using several luxurious free client interfaces available for Android and iOS (showing album covers, searchable by genre, etc.).
The other part of the product is a small and efficient amplifier, based on the well-known TI TPA3116D2 chip, which will easily handle even the more demanding speakers. Like the server, the amplifier part of the product is also customisable, so you can choose different combinations, e.g. a more powerful amp (2x100W).
Hana-Lab offers a unique blend of technology, design and craftsmanship, together with individualised approach to each customer.
They have several other optional additions to this basic product (enclosure for the external 2.5″ hard disk, or a server with front-mounted LCD screen and an additional IR remote control), and offer completely customised setups. Their manufacturing process is artisanal, and each product is handmade in consultation with the customer (they will even go as far as to offer differently positioned power switches for left-handed users).
The prices for the server start at €350 for a simple network player without DAC: the model shown has integrated HD Audio DAC, at 24-bit, 192KHz, and costs €450. The amplifiers start at €320 for the basic 2x50W model, with a 10% discount if both are purchased at once.
Developed for Dolby Atmos commercial theatres, these BGW amplifiers are now ready for use in Home Cinemas. Designed in recognition that increased channel density required to playback Dolby Atmos in a commercial theatre would lead to significant crowding in the projection booth, Morris Kessler and his team designed a series of high-channel-count, flexible amplifiers. All use dual-differential balanced circuitry, Thermal-Trak output devices, current feedback and dual DC Servos (the same basic topology used in Kessler’s award-winning Signature Series ATI amplifiers) to deliver what ATI believe is ‘the highest quality audio ever available in a commercial setting.’ To maximize these amplifiers suitability for commercial use, they feature rack-mounting, forced air cooling, clip-limiting and can be outfitted for remote telemetry. When so enabled, the status of each channel can be monitored remotely using such devices as an iPad or iPhone.
Each of the 6 amplifiers in the BGW Immersive Sound series is effectively two complete amps on a single chassis with two line cords, two toroidal transformers and two power switches. Each amplifier is rated for 3200 watts RMS total output with 1600 watts available in each side. In the VXi8.8 (pictured above) each side consists of 8 200W per channel amplifiers. In the VXi4.4, each side has 4 400W RMS amplifiers per side, while in the VXi2.2, each side is rated at 800W RMS x 2. These BGW amps are so versatile, they are even available in split configurations with 8 x 200W available on one half with 4 x 400W (the VX.i8.4) or 2 x 800W (the VX.i8.2) available on the other half.
According to Kessler, “These amps have been a huge hit in the world of commercial cinema. We powered an entire theater with one VXi8.4 for Jurassic World and could monitor every critical operating parameter right from my iPhone.”
All BGW amplifiers are assembled in ATI’s factory in Montebello, CA.
MSRP for the amplifiers, regardless of channel count, is $8,890.00. They are available now.
“What do you do if you covet Magnepan’s soaring loudspeakers but don’t have the largest of listening rooms?” asks the company’s latest press release and it seems they have just the solution with their new 0.7 (‘point seven’), a scaled down version of the brand’s acclaimed 1.7 model.
The new 0.7 (‘point seven’) is a scaled down version of the 1.7 but designed with the smaller listening room in mind. 
Magnepan’s loudspeakers (‘Maggies’ to their many fans) are tall, slender flat-panel designs which, unlike most standard cabinet speakers, do not rely on conventional cone and dome drivers. The Magneplanar concept is similar to an electrostatic speaker in that both produce sound by moving a thin film membrane. But in the Magneplanar design, the force is magnetic rather than electrostatic, generated by an array of closely spaced permanent magnets.
The 1.7’s technology was unprecedented for Magnepan, being the company’s first “full range quasi ribbon” design. Ribbon-based drivers are an evolution of Magnepan’s original planar magnetic technology. An ultra-thin ribbon of metallic foil carries the current from the amplifier, and is also the diaphragm that moves the air to create sound. No voice coil, no cone, no surround, no box.
So what exactly is a “full range quasi ribbon” design? The quasi ribbon driver is a deviation from the true ribbon design in which a very thin film backing is used to hold the delicate ribbons in place. One of the advantages of quasi ribbon drivers is their extremely wide frequency bandwidth and high power handling, enabling their use through the full range of drivers. The result say Magnepan is superb integration and coherence, with the bass, mid and high frequencies all blending together to produce sound from one seamless ‘sheet’.
Like the 1.7, the new scaled down 0.7 is a full range quasi ribbon design, American-made with virtually all American-made parts. The key differences lie in its slightly smaller dimensions and the fact that it is a two-way rather a three-way design.
Because the 0.7 has a smaller bass diaphragm, it has less ‘bite on the air’ so the bass will be less than that of the 1.7 if it is used it in a larger room. However, Magnepan has this covered: their optional add-on Magneplanar Bass Panel offers the flexibility to add bass diaphragm area to fit the needs of any room.
For those who have followed Magnepan’s recent ‘i’ upgrades to the 3.7 and 1.7 models, the enhancements applied in the 3.7i and 1.7i have been incorporated into the 0.7.
The Magneplanar 0.7 is available now in a choice of two finishes: off-white fabric with an oak trim, or black fabric with an oak, cherry, black or silver trim.
UK selling price (per pair, including VAT @ 20%):
Jake Purches of Vivid Audio UK got in touch to tell us about what they have in store for Whittlebury visitors this year: “We are showing just two loudspeakers from the Vivid range. The V1 (used to be V1.5) which is the entry level loudspeaker at £6500, a two way speaker based on the same principles as the Giya speakers, using exactly the same drivers. The second is the new B1 decade loudspeaker at £18000 limited to 200 pairs. Whilst similar to the B1, it uses bass drivers with Giya motor systems and new mid and tweeter domes protected by ‘spiderman’ grilles, and a new cabinet made from the thin film advanced vacuum infused composite construction used on the Giya series. The B1 Decade is the nearest to a true Giya but in an Oval wrapping. They will be demonstrated using AVM electronics from Germany.”
Vivid will also be featuring the talents of Rachel Collis, an Australian singer songwriter of the folk/pop genre.
Vivid will be launching a special edition of Rachel Collis’s Nightlife on DVD Music format, in 24 bit 96 khz from the studio masters.
The third annual headphone show CanJam Europe on September 26th and 27th in Essen, Germany, will be presenting a huge variety of headphones and accessories. The event’s organisers were aiming for 100 brands, more than 110 have already signed up. The seminar and workshop track has experts speak on personal audio topics and the “Best of Show” awards has visitors vote for their favourite gear at the show. 
From AKG to Westone, from 20-Euro headsets to 3,000-Euro highend headphones, from headphones to suitable storage options, from portable amplifiers to desktop DACs – at CanJam Europe, headphone enthusiasts and music lovers can experience the whole range of personal audio.
The show will have world premiers like Eternal Arts‘ new headphone amp Twin Type Professional, or a prototype from Audiovalve. The Heilbronn audio expert Beyerdynamic will be bringing their new Tesla headphones to CanJam Europe, which have just premiered at IFA, these include the new earphone AK T8iE with miniature Tesla drivers, the updated, second generation top-of-the range T1 and the DT1770, an enhancement to legendary studio headphone DT770. The brand-new, portable Tesla headphone T1p, co-developed with Astell&Kern like the AK T8iE, will have its world premier at CanJam Europe.
At Corda’s show booth, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the new FF-Technology, which enhances reproduction of mids and highs. Audio Technica will be showing hi-res certified products like its new headphone MSR7 or portable DAC PHA100. Grado will be presenting its limited-edition GH1 headphone, made from a maple tree from Grado’s Brooklyn home. Hd-klassik will be showing its Class-A Headphone Optimizer, which is tuned individually to the customer’s headphone. Musica Acoustics from Japan will be presenting exotic personal audio highlights like the fully-balanced portable headphone amp, Mass Kobo 404.
GIK Acoustics, manufacturer and seller of acoustical absorption and diffusion products, is pleased to announce that GeneralManager David Shevyn will give two educational talks on the importance of room treatments at the National Audio Show in Whittlebury Hall this weekend.
Mr. Shevyn will present a discussion on the importance of room treatments and the basics of room set up, as well as answering audience questions on room acoustics.
The free seminars will take place in the Vale Suite:
Saturday, 19 September at 3:30pm GMT
Sunday, 20 September at 3:30pm GMT
ECLIPSE, the high-performance loudspeaker division within Fujitsu Ten, the multi- billion-dollar global technology giant, is to exhibit at The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest!
ECLIPSE will be taking selected models from its legendary range of loudspeakers and subwoofers, to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2015 (October 02nd – 04th 2015). Following the company’s successful participation at both CES 2015 and The Home Entertainment Show Newport (T.H.E Show) 2015, ECLIPSE will be exhibiting in the US once again.
ECLIPSE will be showing its recently launched flagship subwoofer, the TD725SWMK2, in a high- performance 2.1 system, featuring the company’s flagship loudspeaker, the TD712zMK2.
For smaller living spaces and tighter budgets, ECLIPSE will be giving show-goers the chance to hear their desktop-audio system, the TD-M1. This compact, wireless speaker features a 24-bit/192kHz NOS DAC, a high-efficiency digital amplifier and is AirPlay-ready.
ECLIPSE team members at the event will include: Masaya Shirai, Overseas Sales (Japan); Paul Burnip, Sales Manager (UK) and Hideto Watanabe, Senior Manager (UK/Japan).
ECLIPSE will be located at Room 1002, Longs Peak. The Rocky Mountain Audio Fest is held at the Denver Marriott Tech Centre Hotel, Colorado.
Another new preamplifier from McIntosh has been announced on the company’s website, hot on the heals of the C1100 that we broke news of yesterday.
“The C52 is the most advanced, single chassis solid state preamplifier we’ve ever made” the company say.
For connecting analogue devices, it includes 3 balanced and 4 unbalanced fully assignable inputs plus 1 each of Moving Coil and Moving Magnet phono inputs for connecting a turntable.
On the digital side, it has 3 optical, 2 coaxial and 1 USB input. The optical and coax inputs will decode digital music at up to 24-bit/192kHz for high resolution audio playback. The C52 is also capable of decoding and playing back DSD files; the USB input accepts PCM signals up to 32-bit/384kHz and supports DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256 plus DXD 352.8kHz and DXD 384kHz. An MCT input offers a secure, custom DSD connection for playback of the high definition audio found on SACDs when paired with the company’s MCT450 SACD/CD Transport . The C52 features a 24-bit/192kHz, DSD digital-to-analogue-converter. 
The outputs have also been updated to be easier to operate when bi-amping or tri-amping so that your highs and/or lows are not inadvertently turned off. An 8 band analogue equalizer is also included.
For headphone listening there’s Headphone Crossfeed Director (HXD®) and the Home Theatre Pass Through feature allows for seamless integration into your multi-channel home theatre system.
Jordan Acoustics has launched a brand new tailor-made website which they say brings visitors the very best in high-performance audio from around the world. The fully searchable site offers a host of new features along with a fresh, modern design that perfectly complements Jordan Acoustics’ two luxurious outlets, Bournemouth and Glenrothes _ it’s certainly easy to navigate around.
The complete Jordan Acoustics product portfolio, including the full McIntosh range, is now available to browse and for the first time, the company has provided the facility to purchase selected products online, 24/7. The new website also features the latest news from Jordan Acoustics’ client portfolio, plus announcements, events and offers.
Site visitors with an eye for a bargain can discover savings in Jordan Acoustics’ Used Equipment section. With all previously cherished products checked and tested prior to sale.
Jordan Acoustics has two retail outlets with demonstration facilities, knowledgeable staff and a comprehensive range of high-performance equipment. World-class brands from Jordan Acoustics’ stores include: McIntosh; Naim; Burmester; SME; Astell and Kern; Focal and many more leading marques.
Entotem got in touch to tell Hifi Pig readers what they will be up to at this year’s Whittlebury show with their Plato system which was first introduced earlier this year at the Sound and Vision Show in Bristol, winning the Clarity Alliance Innovation award. In May Entotem took the Plato system to the High End show in Munich and gained interest from all areas of Europe and has since been reviewed very favourably by some of the leading HiFi journals in Germany as well as the UK. At their recent UK Retail launch in London the company shared its future plans for Plato as well as outlining its strategy for retail integration within the UK. At the launch Entotem announced an exclusive distribution deal for Germany, Robert Ross Audiophile Produkt GmbH will have exclusive rights to distribute to retail throughout Germany, other European countries will follow.
So what can people expect to see at Whittlebury:
Plato is powered by a bespoke Android operating system, and whilst currently the companion app only supports Android, support for IOS will be available by the year end. Demonstrations of plato will be available throughout the weekend on the hour every hour in syndicate room 6 with a unit on display within the Clarity Alliance room where you can get up close and personal with the Entotem Plato.
StrEamer
Mini server for gapless playback of music via internet streaming and/or radio with integrated high precision volume control. Being connected to a home network system can be totally remote controlled by mobile phone or tablet.
Technical data:
Inputs: RJ45 for Ethernet connection and USB for external storage as USB-stick or HDD
Output: USB high speed
Compatible players: Logitech Media Server (squeezebox), DLNA (JRiver, Minimserver, Foobar, etc.), Airplay (iTunes)
Supported formats: PCM up to 24 bit 384 kHz standard audio formats and DSD64, 128 (DoP protocol)
Retail price: Euro 550 – incl. 5VDC power supply
Isolator
Ethernet filter blocking electromagnetic interference. Recommended to be used in any network system protecting devices connected to the output, like a streamer, PC, TV, media player, etc.
Retail price: Euro 390,-
The MiniSub Chroma is a single box solution for conditioning an entire AV system. It incorporates many of the technologiesfeatured in the SubStation range, with help from the VMC1080 video conditioner, at a much more affordable price.
There are six outlets with a total combined continuous capacity of 10 Amps. One is for video displays of all types. Three are for source components, each have individual Transmodal filters to combat noise cross contamination within your system. These attenuate both common and differential mode noise without dumping it to ground. Two high power outlets are cleaned by a low dynamic impedance, high current filter optimised for amplifiers.
Components include Evox capacitors, OFC Mundorf inductors, silver plated PTFE insulated wiring and custom ISOL-8 chokes.
£995.00 
Gramofon makes it easy to stream music over the cloud to any audio system you own, from portables to hi-fi separates. Simply plug the little black box into your system via the supplied stereo RCA cable, connect it to your home Wi-Fi network and get streaming from any Wi-Fi-enabled device – smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac.
Now, owners of HTC smartphones are set for an even more seamless experience with Gramofon thanks to the integration of HTC Connect. This works in tandem with HTC’s latest Sense™ 7 user interface, enabling both locally stored and web-based music to be streamed from an HTC phone to any Gramofon-connected sound system with a simple three-finger swipe.
HTC Connect is the latest in a long list of features available to all Gramofon users, thanks to Qualcomm’s AllPlay smart media platform. AllPlay delivers compatibility with a wide range of music-streaming services, and enables users to synchronise multiple Gramofons connected to sound systems around the home, thus creating a smart multi-room network. In addition to AllPlay, every Gramofon incorporates Spotify Connect, making it easy to stream music wirelessly via Spotify Premium to any audio gear with RCA inputs.
“We are delighted to welcome Gramofon to the HTC Connect program,” said Drew Bamford, Corporate Vice President, HTC. “HTC phone users are now able to stream any local or web-based music to Gramofon and other Allplay-compatible devices. Gramofon’s flexible approach fits the open HTC Connect ecosystem perfectly.”
Gramofon is €59 with free shipping.
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