High-End Audio / Hi-Res
Audio (HRA) Audiophile Industry News
Stay
informed by joining our e-Newsletter list
plus it enters you into our great
contests too! Pease be sure to
visit and join Enjoy the Music.com's informative social media pages.
Merrill Audio Element 116 Gallium Nitride Monoblock Power Amplifiers Merrill Audio Advanced Technology Labs is following the enormous success of their Element 118 with their 116 monoblock
variant ($22,000 per pair). Employing the same Galliium Nitiride Transistors and ZXOL design, which has zero feedback and zero dead time, the company says this innovation gives a music reproduction that is full of air, emotion and detail. A great many new technologies for the company are used within the new Element series, code name Project Oganesson. This is named after the Oganesson element – the latest Atomic element added to the periodic table, OG with atomic number 118. Using a zero feedback, open loop proprietary design which Merrill Audio has code named ZXOL, the Element 116 monoblock power amplifiers are also said to deliver amazing detail like never before, and yet with an immediacy found only in live music. A highly advanced custom PCB removes almost all of the parasitic inductance and capacitance enabling a superbly fast response with a smooth, controlled sound that
capitalizes on the full capabilities of the Gallium nitride transistors. Only the finest 0.1% tolerance components were used. All wire is silver plated OFC copper, with PTFE sleeving for the best signal transfer and lowest dielectric.
The Element 116 power amplifier monoblocks are package in beautifully engineered chassis that is accented with Rose Gold Acoustical Dampers and faceplate, making it a work as an art piece as well, befitting enjoyment for your ears and your eyes. Power output is 300 Watts into 8 Ohms, 600 Watts into 4 Ohms and
1200 Watts into 2
Ohms. Enjoy
the Music.com offers you
a World Premiere Review of Merrill Audio's Element 118 monoblock amplifiers at this link.
Tidal App Now Available For Samsung Galaxy Gear Watches Just as we announced that Spotify is available to wearables on October 18th Industry
News, Tidal has just announced their new app for Samsung Galaxy watches. As Tidal's first foray into an app for wearable devices, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Gear S3, Gear S3 and the Gear Sport as well as the Gear Fit2 Pro and the Gear Fit2 can all enjoy music via the new Tidal app.
Spotify's app for Google OS a nice addition, and now Samsung also offers Spotify as their go-to music services across all of its devices. Tidal is hoping to make their mark within the streaming music sector too, as
enthusiasts of true lossless music may be jumping ship away from
lossy-compressed Tidal and onto lossless Qobuz. As for Tidal, a Premium Tidal subscription will be required to use the Samsung Galaxy Gear app. New users may sign in with Samsung's smartwatches and receive a three month trial of Tidal Premium for free. "Our continued partnership with Samsung allows users to have a best-in-class streaming experience across all devices," said
Tidal's COO Lior Tibon. It remains to be seen how true lossless Hi-Res Music via Qobuz may affect the
demand for proprietary MQA lossy compressed music offered by Tidal.
DEG Honors VR Pioneer Nonny de la Peña
With Hedy Lamarr Award The DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, advocates and promoters of entertainment platforms including movie, television, music, consumer electronics and IT industries, is pleased to announce their Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology for 2018 has been awarded to VR Pioneer Nonny de la Peña (CEO, Emblematic Group). This award recognizes female executives in the fields of entertainment and technology who have made a significant contribution to the industry. As the second annual Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology, the DEG's 2017 inaugural recipient of the Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology was Geena Davis, Founder and Chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. The 2018 awards were made possible through the generous sponsorship of Deluxe and Sony Electronics. Austrian-American actress Hedy Lamarr was a Hollywood legend who is best known for her roles in a number of film classics, including Samson and Delilah, The Strange Woman, and Tortilla Flat. She was also a lifelong inventor whose innovative work included pioneering "frequency hopping", which became the foundation for spread spectrum technology. Conceived by Lamarr and composer George Antheil for radio guidance systems and patented in 1942, this highly secure technology resists interference and dropout, and is utilized today for a variety of cellular,
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth applications. To determine the award winners, the DEG has enlisted a distinguished Judging Panel comprised of a cross-section of leaders representing the entertainment, technology, academic, IT and consumer electronics industries. Among other factors, the Judging Panel will base their decision on the
candidate's embodiment of the following principles: Innovation, Engagement, Excellence, and Leadership.
Hi-Fi World's
December 2018 Issue Features Great Articles And Reviews
Hi-Fi
World's December 2018 issue features your chance to win a NAD C338 hybrid digital integrated amplifier worth £600. Show coverage in this issue features Noel Keywood and Martin Pipe reports on London's Festival of Sound show in Hammersmith. Reviews within this issue
includes Klipsch R-820F loudspeakers, Quad Artera Play + CD player, Pioneer A-40AE integrated amplifier, RNHP Headphone Amp / Russ Andrews, Chord SPM 1050 MKII amplifier,
Jon Myles enjoys a massively powerful Chord, Lenco L-400 turntable, Creek OBH-8MK2 budget MM phono preamp, Audiolab M-Ear 2D and 4d Eearbuds.
Within his editorial
Noel Keywood says "I love accurate loudspeakers – but there's a down side. The more you hone them the less characterful and engaging they become. The best compromise I ever came across was made by Tannoy who were able to combine fundamental accuracy with dynamite sonics in a way that eluded all others. A big reason for this gap between mainstream and Tannoy lay in simple and obvious places like unique in-house drive units – their big dual-concentrics – housed in enormous cabinets. I loved every inch of them – a go-to for the visceral excitement we all (secretly!) dream about. The only drawback of course was the price: think £3k to £10k or more if you can manage it – and own a castle big enough to contain their size and strong enough to withstand their power."
See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World and read the complete editorial at this link.
11 / 03 / 18
Sponsored By Enjoy the Music.com:
RMAF 2018 Seminar Videos
Featuring
many leading experts within the field of audio and music reproduction, Enjoy
the Music.com proudly sponsored all seminars during the Rocky Mountain
International Audio Fest 2018. As always, enjoy the music!
KEF Announces Their New LSX Modern Wireless Music System KEF's new LSX ($1099.99) give your music the space it deserves. Play anything. Hear everything. From music streaming to gaming, from TV to multi-room music, LSX is designed for all your home entertainment needs. Play what you like, how you like, where you like – and experience it all in glorious high-resolution stereo. With two speakers positioned apart from each other, you'll experience music as a 3D soundstage, with the pin-point imaging and sense of presence that one-box systems miss. It's the difference between just hearing music, and really feeling it. LSX comes with Apple AirPlay 2 which, from a simple screen tap or request to Siri, unlocks the world of multi-room audio. You can wirelessly stream all your
favorite music apps to your whole home with seamless control from your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. With Spotify Connect and Tidal built in, all the music you love is at your fingertips. Stream from the cloud, or directly from a NAS drive or a computer through DLNA fully wirelessly at
48kHz/24-bit resolution (or 96kHz/24-bit using optional wired connection). Or simply use Bluetooth. With KEF's LSX, nothing gets between you and the music. Connecting to Wi-Fi takes moments with the KEF Control app and keeps abreast of the latest firmware, so your speakers are future-proofed and always up to date. LSX comes with KEF's breakthrough Uni-Q driver array. By placing the tweeter at the
center of the midrange and bass cone, it radically improves stereo imaging. This not only makes music sound clear, detailed and lifelike, it does so across a wider listening area. Overseen by renowned product designer Michael Young, LSX's design achieves a fine balance of form and function. Carefully considered details include port accent
colors and a color changing LED to subtly indicate which source is selected. Whatever your style, there's an LSX to match. The system comes with a choice of five
colors, and is clad in an industrial fabric by Danish contemporary textile designer, Kvadrat. These fine details make the LSX pleasing to the touch, as well as appealing to the eye.
Hi-Fi+'s
November Magazine
Features Many High-End Audio Reviews Hi-Fi+ magazine's
November 2018 issue feature coverage of Festival Of Sound 2018 plus reviews of
the Audiovector R8 floorstanding loudspeaker, Raidho XT-5 floorstander, Neat Acoustics Ultimatum XL6 speaker, Bowers & Wilkins 606, Dynaudio XEO 20 active stand-mount monitor, Elac Vela BS 403, Dutch & Dutch 8c, Moon 390/400M digital preamplifier / mono power amplifier, and Vitus RI-101 integrated amplifier. Portable audio is also reviewed and includes the RME ADE-2 DAC DAC/headphone amplifier, Schiit Jotunheim MultiBit DAC/headphone amplifier, and Transparent Reference Power Isolator power conditioner. For those who enjoy tweaking, there's also a review of IsoAcoustics's Gaia I, II, III loudspeaker isolation feet.
Within his editorial Alan Sircom says
"The world of loudspeakers should be something of a sleepy backwater. The technological developments that got us the classic loudspeaker design are mostly decades old. Moreover, while there have been significant step-changes in materials science and the ability to measure every single aspect of a loudspeaker and its cabinet, this has been the case for years. Surely by now we must be at the point of minor nuanced changes in performance?
The loudspeaker might be a mature piece of equipment, but it is still capable of producing profound and surprising performance improvements from year to year. It's a moot point whether this comes down to new developments in the material world, ever better measurement systems, more refined accompanying products giving the loudspeaker the chance to shine, or engineers given an ever freer hand to express their best-possible designs. The fact is, today's loudspeakers are better than ever." See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi+ Magazine at this
link.
11 / 01 / 18
Enjoy the Music.com's
November Review Magazine Is Available Online Enjoy the
Music.com's November Review
Magazine features multiple show reports, great gear reviews,
educational videos, and an idea to help expand the awareness of high-end
audio and lossless Hi-Res Music. You can see everything within this month's edition of Enjoy
the Music.com's Review Magazine at this link.
As always, in the end what really
matters is that you...
WARNING:
Due to our ongoing growth and to keep this e-mail relatively short in
length, below are just a sampling of the many articles and reviews
within the November issue.
Pre-Sale Tickets To Movie Bohemian Rhapsody Tops Charts According to FandangoNOW, the movie
Bohemian Rhapsody is the presales champion of this year's movie musicals to date, outpacing both Bradley Cooper's
A Star is Born and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again at the same point in the Fandango sales cycle. "Bohemian" is scoring 87 out of 100 points on Fandango's movie buzz index, Fanticipation. "There's a big appetite for music-driven movies right now, and that's definitely part of what's fueling the high advance ticket sales for
Bohemian Rhapsody," says Fandango Managing Editor Erik Davis. "The popularity of Queen's music and the buzz on Rami Malek's exceptional performance as Freddie Mercury makes it one of the year's can't-miss movies." According to a survey of more than 1000
"Bohemian" moviegoers:
• 94% are Queen fans.
• 93% can't wait to see Rami Malek's performance as Freddie Mercury.
• 70% are fans of movie musicals on the big screen.
Capital Audiofest 2018 Takes Place This Coming Weekend Capital Audiofest
(CAF) 2018 is the USA's premiere East coast high-end home audio event. You may enjoy millions of dollars in high-end audio gear and top-flight audiophile music all within a truly fun experience. Qobuz is the event's Official Hi-Res Audio streaming platform, as true music lovers do not desire lossy compressed formats. Seminars include Matthew Barton
of the Library of Congress with his "Tour de Formats: How do you play this stuff?" Matt presents an informal history of sound formats, including commercial releases and field recordings from the 1890s on, as well as classic radio broadcasts and other audio gems, all with an eye (ear?) towards demonstrating just how good old recordings can actually sound and how much
under-appreciated and under-utilized audio there is out there. Another seminar is by Greg Viggiano of the DC Hi-Fi Group, as he'll discuss Best Practices for Cleaning Vinyl Records. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss various methodologies and determine best practices for the cleaning and restoring of vinyl phonographic sound recordings. CAF takes place at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Ctr in Rockville, Maryland, from November 2nd through 4th. Our
CAF 2018 show report by Greg Weaver will be online shortly after the event.
Kalista DreamPlay
32-bit/384kHz Digital-To-Analog Converter Aiming to realize the audiophile's dreams, Kalista
now completes their DreamPlay range with their visually stunning D/A converter. Said to be exceptional in design and sound by the company, DreamPlay DAC complements their DreamPlay CD turntable. Kalista's DreamPlay DAC is 100% designed and hand-made in Metronome's workshops in the South-West of France. It features a massive aluminum chassis, methacrylate transparent parts, and stainless steel feet. Other features include double DAC functionality, made possible by two high-end internal D/A converter lines. Each of them have a pair of conversion chips in dual mono mode. Of note is that the DreamPlay DAC a high-end DAC featuring both solid-state and vacuum tube outputs. Digital inputs include S/PDIF coax, AES/EBU XLR, optical TosLink, and USB. The DAC
itself can handle upwards of 32-bit/384 kHz via two AK4395 and two AK4493 in dual mono mode. Analog outputs are both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR. Weight is 15 kgs and dimensions are 450 x 130 x
460mm.
Campfire Audio Solaris Universal Fit In-Ear Monitor Campfire Audio's
all-new audiophile-grade Solaris in-ear monitors (IEM) mixes technologies from the company's palate of sonic masterpieces. By incorporating many individual acoustic technologies into Solaris, Campfire Audio were able to create what they feel is an exceptional earphone. Solaris is a hybrid design, blending the best of the balanced armature performance with the physicality of dynamic drivers. Two custom balanced armature tweeters are paired with Campfire Audio's Tune Acoustic Expansion Chamber (T.A.E.C.) for extended highs, without sibilance or fatigue. A larger single rear-ported balanced armature driver provides rich delivery of mid frequencies. There's also a specially-tuned version of their 10mm A.D.L.C. dynamic driver, optimized with Polarity Tuned Chamber, assists in anchoring the sonic performance with deeply engaging mid-frequency tonality and visceral bass response. The beryllium / copper MMCX Connections are mated with Campfire Audio's silver plated copper super Litz cable.
10 / 29 / 18
Ayon Audio Triton III GEN 4 Stereo Integrated Tube Amplifier Ayon Audio, an award-earning Austrian vacuum tube amplifier manufacturer, has unveiled their new Ayon Audio Triton III GEN 4. Operating in pure Class A, this stereo integrated stereo amplifier can operate in pentode and/or triode mode . Intelligent auto-bias and tube protection system keeps the unit operating at optimum levels whilst also ensuing safety from the natural wear of
vacuum tubes. Ayon Audio's Triton III GEN 4 will alert you when a vacuum tube is misbehaving and thus needs replacement. This cool running unit is easy to operate and has
both high quality unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR inputs. Ayon Audio gold plated solid body speaker binding posts provide performance levels that are truly high end and luxurious. All internal wiring to the circuit boards is done with the use of special pluggable pin connectors. This is done for ease of repair should the need ever arise. Output is via 4 or 8 Ohm taps, with pentode delivering 120 Watts per
channel, and triode being 70 Watts per channel. Wideband frequency response is
from 8Hz to 70kHz.
10 / 26 / 18
Rush Hemispheres 40th Anniversary:
Three LP & Two CD/Blu-ray Audio Rush Hemispheres 40th Anniversary brings newfound album remastering available on CD for the first time along with previously unreleased and newly restored bonus content consisting of the band's 1979 Pinkpop festival performance. Includes three 180 gram LPs mirroring the two CDs. The
Blu-ray disc features the album newly mixed from the original multi-tracks in 5.1 surround sound along with four bonus videos. Also includes a 40-page hard cover book with unreleased photos and new artwork by Hugh Syme, an extensive essay by Rob Bowman, a 1979 tour replica program, a wall poster, a Pinkpop Festival replica ticket and VIP pass, and a replica 1978 "Rush"
Hemispheres iron-on patch. You can
order Rush Hemispheres 40th Anniversary from Amazon at this link.
Lossless Music: FCC Proposes More
6 GHz Spectrum For Unlicensed Use Putting another nail in the lossy compressed audio coffin is the FCC who has
proposed opening up more unlicensed spectrum for Wi-Fi and other uses. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just proposed to make up to 1200 megahertz of spectrum available for use by unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz band (5.925-7.125 GHz, ET Docket No. 18-295; GN Docket No. 17-183). Unlicensed devices that employ Wi-Fi and other unlicensed standards have become indispensable for providing low-cost wireless connectivity in countless products used by American consumers. The proposed rules are designed to allow unlicensed devices to operate in the 6 GHz band without interfering with the operation of the licensed services that will continue to use this spectrum. In those portions of the 6 GHz band that are heavily used by point-to-point microwave links, the Commission proposes to allow unlicensed devices to operate where permitted by an automated frequency coordination system and invites comment as to whether this is necessary for devices operated only indoors. In the other portions of the band where licensed mobile services, such as the Broadcast Auxiliary Service and Cable Television Relay Service, operate, the unlicensed devices would be restricted to indoor operations at lower power.
10 / 23 / 18
VPI Celebrates With Their HW-40 40th Anniversary Turntable VPI is proud to announce their 40th Anniversary Turntable, the
HW-40 ($15,000), which pays tribute to 40 years of engineering, technology, and development. In the late 1970's Harry Weisfeld started creating accessory components for his audiophile hobby. Coming from an Electrical Engineering background, he was always fascinated with direct drive turntables and how he can produce great accessories to improve upon them. One of those first accessories was the HW-9 isolation base, which was made specifically for the Denon DP-75 with a mounted gimbal tonearm. VPI's new HW-40 Direct Drive is an evolution of the company's 40-year design and engineering while holding the DNA of classic direct design. This new turntable retains their direct drive motor design and benefits from modern motion control circuitry and software, plus more modern vibration and isolation technology. VPI's HW-40 top chassis, front, and back are made from solid machined 0.75 thick 6061 aluminum that is painted textured black and damped internally with an MDF dampening plate. Every part is mounted with machined screws into blind tapped holes for a clean and sleek visual design. All power supply and control circuitry is internal, as there's no added-on boxes or external power supplies. VPI's latest version of 12" gimbal 3D printed Fat-Boy arm with triangular to circular resonance canceling design is included. The robust gimbal bearing employs ABEC 9 bearings made in Japan for ultra-low friction. HW-40's tonearm has an adjustable counterweight on a threaded shaft for accurate VTF setting. This new Fat-Boy VTA design includes a finer adjustment via a more robust machined aluminum and steel knob. The HW-40 motor coils are constructed of a solid copper square cross-section wire embedded within a composite structure. This facilitates a high precision high efficiency motor. The motor has high torque, excellent cooling, and near optimal interaction with electromagnetic conductors within the magnetic rotor circuit. VPI claims that their HW-40 direct drive system achieves 93% efficiency and a torque of 2.68 Nm/sec. This allows the 25lb platter assembly to achieve full speed and decelerating to a stop in one second.
10 / 22 / 18
FiiO's New M9 Hi-Res DAP And K3 Hi-Res USB DAC / Amplifier FiiO's M9 ($299.99) is an Android-based Hi-Res Audio smart DAP equipped with 3.5mm and 2.5mm outputs, dual AK4490EN DACs, Wi-Fi, and USB Type-C port. Codes include aptX, aptX HD, LDAC and HWA (LHDC) plus it may be used as a USB DAC / USB audio out. There's also
support for native DSD. FiiO's M9 can be used as an asynchronous USB DAC with both Macs and Windows PCs. The M9 can also act as your computer's Bluetooth transmitter – simply hook the M9 up to your computer as a USB DAC, and then have the player transmit
Bluetooth audio to your headset. Unique to the FiiO M9 is RGB light indicator status that shows what audio format you are listening to! Under normal usage the M9 can last around 10 hours, while in deep sleep (standby) mode the M9 can be still be used after a whopping 45 days! FiiO's K3 ($109.99) (previously called E30) is a hi-fi USB DAC and headphone amplifier that features USB Type-C port, standard stereo 3.5mm line output, 2.5mm balanced stereo headphone output, S/PDIF coaxial output, TosLink optical output plus has Bass / Gain switch. The USB DAC supports up to 384kHz/32-bit while a high-performance discrete headphone amp is joined by built-in power filtering and switching circuit for purer audio output. The AKM AK4452 as DAC chip supports high sampling rates signal, high SNR and low distortion. TI OPA1642 as the LPF drives the line output.
10 / 19 / 18
Headphones To Experience A 23% Growth / $21B In Retail Value According to Futuresource
Consulting, "the appeal of audio headphones continues to attract consumers, with a 4% increase in shipments forecast for 2018. However, this will be eclipsed by 23% growth in retail value, according to a new industry report from Futuresource
Consulting... The new Futuresource report surveys the global landscape for aftermarket headphones. It breaks out six regions and 18 countries, and provides data on feature sets, price segmentation, brand shares and distribution trends out to 2022... When it comes to the feature set, wireless is top of the list for most people. This is being helped along by increased choice, and is a vendor response to the removal of the headphone jack by smartphone manufacturers. More recently, true wireless (with no wires between the individual headphones) has started to gain real momentum... The continued growth of the headphones market will be a discussion point at
the fifth annual Audio Collaborative conference. Hosted by Futuresource in London on 8th November, the event will bring together analysts and industry heavyweights from both professional and consumer audio to explore all the technologies, markets and strategies that are opening up opportunities." Luke Pearce, Analyst at Futuresource Consulting, said
"Our data shows a history of steady development in the headphones market, with both value and volume riding strong in our
charts. By year end 2018, the market will have generated annual revenues close to $21 billion worldwide. Across the globe, when consumers buy headphones as a standalone purchase rather than bundled with a device, they are looking for an improved audio experience and they are willing to pay more to get it. As a result, the worldwide average price for headphones continues to rise. We're going to see the ASP grow by almost 20% in 2018 alone."
Hi-Res Audio Wireless Music Streaming Via Wear OS By Google And Spotify Study after scientific study proves that music moves
people in many ways. Yet accessing your music collection a decade ago generally meant reaching for physical media such as CD and vinyl LP. Imagine having the ability to
stream Hi-Res Audio and controlling it right from your watch! While we're not quite there yet,
and 5G cell phone coverage is only available within a few markets, Spotify now offers an app for
Google OS! Controlling your fave
classical, pop, jazz, and rock from your phone can feel a bit restrictive. According to
Spotify's press release, "Sometimes you need the freedom to dive into any song at any moment. Starting today, Spotify's new app for smartwatches on Wear OS by Google takes the work out of your hands (literally) and puts it on your wrist, leaving you free to run, dance, shop,
socialize — and control your music at the same time. We've also partnered with Fossil Group to bring the Spotify experience in a standalone app for Wear OS by Google smartwatches to even more users. Starting in November, Spotify will be auto-installed on all Fossil Gen 4 Smartwatches and Michael Kors Access Runway Smartwatches." Mikael Ericsson, Senior Product Director at Spotify, said "We're excited to bring improved on-the-go-access to your favorite music and podcasts to millions of Spotify users on Wear OS by Google smartwatches. Being able to easily access, control, and connect music directly from your wrist opens up a world of new opportunities. We look forward to continuing to improve the Spotify experience in this space." Their press release continues by saying "With Spotify on your Wear OS by Google smartwatch, you no longer need to reach for your phone to access your Discover Weekly playlist. Imagine a run through the park without fumbling to adjust the smartphone on your armband case to play, pause, or skip to the next track. Switching to a song that matches your mood and the tempo of your jog is now as easy as starting your stopwatch. (Or, if you're a walking-while-podcasting type, easily rewind 15 seconds to catch that detail you missed.) While you may use music to fuel your workout, smartwatches are useful for more than exercising. Enjoying your music while cooking dinner, hosting a party, or playing board games can be made easier with a flick of your wrist. Connect your speakers or home devices through Spotify Connect to effortlessly and seamlessly play DJ from your watch, without interrupting the action.... This new experience will be rolling out to users with smartwatches on Wear OS by Google over the coming week, so make sure that you get the latest version of Spotify on Wear OS on Google Play. Look out for more updates coming soon!"
10 / 17 / 18
Amadeus Releases New Philharmonia Mini Passive Hi-Fi Speakers Amadeus
have announced they are now shipping the new Philharmonia Mini passive two-way loudspeakers (€36,000 including VAT), co-designed specifically for the hi-fi market by world-renowned architect Jean Nouvel. Amadeus' new Philharmonia Mini speaker design features include a curved structure that is both simple and complex, consisting of 288 wood veneers accurately machined, aligned and glued, offering a distinctive look and volume. The speaker in itself features a 432mm height with a 353mm depth. The cabinets are custom manufactured from layered Birch and stand 1.23 meters tall. The speaker enclosure features a unique hybrid laminar port using progressive termination inspired by the original Philharmonia. Machined into the wood material along the full height of the speaker system, the very low velocity port yields optimal linearity for the lowest possible distortion. The Philharmonia Mini two-way passive speakers feature the original Philharmonia' 28mm soft-domed tweeter and a custom 170mm woofer, for an amplitude linearity range (+/-2dB) from 54 Hz to 22 kHz, and a cut-off frequency (-6dB) of 44 Hz. The high-frequency driver features very low dielectric losses and high thermal conductivity, loaded behind a fast exponential waveguide machined in wood, which yields exceptional control over spatial dispersion. The pedestal contains passive components inside the lower part of the speaker enclosure, including the custom Amadeus-designed passive crossover. The rear panel of the pedestal features a pair of beautifully finished, top-quality binding posts from Japan-based manufacturer Furutech. These carbon-finished binding posts feature rhodium-plated conductors that are the result of meticulous engineering and careful auditioning of various suitable materials. The FT-816 (R) features an Alpha pure copper conductor material for minimal impedance, extremely non-resonant carbon fiber, non-magnetic stainless steel, and eutectic copper alloy housings. Recommended power is from 50 to 300
Watts @ 8 Ohms and sensitivity is 90dB/W/m.
10 / 16 / 18
Black Cat Cable Launches Their
New Entry Level Coppertone Series Black Cat
Cable's new Coppertone Interconnect ($199.95 @ 1-meter pair, add $50 per additional 0.5-meter) is an air-dielectric coaxial design employing a helically-disposed shield around a thin-walled Teflon tube. Inside the tube is Black Cat Cable's unique Nami-processed bare copper conductor (24awg
solid core). Nami is their process that forms a sinusoidal "wave" shape into the conductor, allowing it to remain substantially suspended in air for exceedingly low capacitance and high velocity. These cables are terminated with REAN unbalanced RCA connectors. Their Coppertone Speaker Cable ($299.95 @ 2.5-meter pair, +/- $50 per 0.5-meter) is a "tube-within-a-tube" according to Black Cat Cable. This coaxial arrangement of tin-plated copper disposed in helically-lain thin tubes separated by a multifilament nylon braided insulator. Each pole consists of 144 strands @ 36 awg/each resulting in a summed conductor area of ca: 1.83mm2 (equivalent to roughly 14.5 AWG). This arrangement allows the Coppertone speaker cable to exhibit low inductance, low skin-effect, low proximity-effect, and low series-resistance.
Loudspeaker cables are terminated with banana plugs. Black Cat Cable's Coppertone USB Cable ($149.95 @ 1-meter, add $50 per additional 0.5-meter) is a traditional USB cable consisting of a
twisted pair of data-lines, a power line, a ground line all within a multi-layered complex of shields to limit leakage and reduce noise. Terminated with USB A + USB B connectors. All Coppertone cables are manufactured from raw materials and fashioned into cable-forms within the company's Cumming, GA workshop using custom machinery, a unique processes, and expert skills.
Qobuz Studio Launch: The First
Monthly & Unlimited Hi-Res Streaming Service Qobuz launches a brand-new offer in the streaming world: Studio. Thanks to Studio, lossless Hi-Res streaming (FLAC 24-bit from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz) is now available from
€24.99 a month, unlimited, with no commitment. For new members, a 1 month free-trial period will be offered. This will allow you to test the Studio offer, without limits, on any device. For those subscribed to the Premium or HiFi offers, now is the time to take it to the next level and try Hi-Res by
changing your
subscription. Qobuz, which has the highest audio streaming quality on the market, already offered a Hi-Res streaming service, but this was only available on a year-long subscription: Sublime+. This offer will continue to exist alongside Studio, but at a reduced price. "Our ambition is to make Hi-Res the reference point on the streaming market," said Yann Miossec, Qobuz Executive CEO. "With Studio we are responding to our users and to all the music lovers who want to join the Hi-Res world, without having to commit to an annual subscription." Sublime+: the most complete offer on the market will also see its price reduced Sublime+, Qobuz's annual Hi-Res streaming and download offer, which offers a discount on downloads, will also so its price lowered from
€349.99 to €299.99. Recent subscribers to the Sublime+ offer and those who have recently renewed their subscription can also take advantage of this discount. We will contact these people in order to offer renewals with
personalized discounts. Created in France in 2007, Qobuz is a music streaming and download service dedicated to all music lovers. Specifically, Qobuz offers streaming and download subscriptions at CD and Hi-Res Audio quality, a great variety of genres and exclusive editorial content. Qobuz is partnered with some of the biggest Hi-Fi brands such as Sony, Chromecast, DTS Play-Fi, Sonos, Yamaha and Devialet.
10 / 12 / 18
RMAF 2018 Show Report
-- Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest
Released Today In 24-bit/192kHz:
A Night Of Chesky Jazz Live (2018
Remaster) On June 24th, 1992, a collection of the world's greatest Jazz musicians gathered in New York for a concert at JVC Jazz Festival at Town Hall. This evening, which featured performances from Tom Harrell, Ana Caram, Paquito D'Rivera, Fred Hersch, and Phil Woods, was immortalized on the 1992 release,
A Night of Chesky Jazz Live. We've gone back to the analog tapes to create this 2018
re-mastered version in high resolution to bring you one step closer to the action. Feel as if you're in the audience for this magical evening of Chesky history. Sit back, relax, and take a step back in time. Tracks on this release include:
Journey To The Center - Tom Harrell, Phil Woods
Weaver - Tom Harrell, Phil Woods
Frevo - Paquito D'Rivera
Child's Song/Forward Motion - Fred Hersch
Nostalgia - Fred Hersch
Caminhos Cruzados - Ana Caram
O Quer Vier Eu Traco - Ana Caram
Seresta - Ana Caram
Birk's Works / Estamos Ai' - Paquito D'Rivera, Phil Woods
LAOCAS 25th Anniversary Gala Honoring Michael Fremer Dear Members and Friends,
The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society LAOCAS.COM 25th Anniversary Gala Honoring Michael Fremer has a blockbuster raffle too! Please visit
www.laocas.com/gala.html to come
join in the celebration. This very special raffle includes:
From Bob Carver: A one-of-a-kind "Society 25th Anniversary Edition" $8500 Stereo Amplifier!
Hand built and signed by Bob Carver, just for our Anniversary Gala. 75 Watts per channel with KT 120 tubes!! May use KT 120 or KT 88 output tubes. Comes with KT120 for best sound and max output. Original Design, in bright red, champagne gold, gloss black, and chrome trim. 50 or 75
Watts, depending on the choice of output tubes. Bob Carver will personally present this premiere exclusive stereo amp to the winner.
$8500. Thank you Bob Carver!
From Zesto Audio: Presenting their newest high-end creation, the "Andros Deluxe Phonostage" for vinyl lovers and connoisseurs! Fantastic all-tube design with maximum adjustability!
Both single-ended RCA and balanced XLR outputs! $6900. Thank you, George and Carolyn Counnas. Both LAOCAS officers and award winners, ZESTO is available at Upscale Audio. The Deluxe will premiere at RMAF! Go to the Zesto room and be amazed by the magic!
From Grado Labs: Ultimate Blockbuster Headphones and Cartridge!
Their new Aeon cartridge, the Grado Prince of high-end cartridges! MI, 1 MV output, and gold coils. Handmade by John Grado. $6000. Unique and rare cocobolo wood. STATE OF THE ART. New for 2018, a Grado Headphone Premiere: GS 3000 Headphones for the true personal listening connoisseur! New top wood circumaural model in cocobolo!
$1795. GORGEOUS! Total retail $7795! Thank you John Grado!
From Kubala-Sosna: Custom Designed Society Edition K-S Headphone Extension Cables with Silver/Engraved 25th Anniversary! 2 Meters in Length. Six Cables Produced, $600 Each. There will be six winners today!!! $3600. May be special ordered through Alma Audio in San Diego anytime at $600 each should the best headphone extenders be all that you may require! Thank you Joe Kubala! (Whose contributions to our Society for over 15 years have been immeasurable. Bob Levi)
From Manley Labs: The Absolute Headphone Amplifier. All tubes and more! Magnificent! Brand New design! $3500.
Thank you EveAnna Manley! The most powerful woman in high-end audio! We can hardly wait to see this.
From Kimber Kable: The PK14 Palladian Power Cord and the PK10 Palladian Power Cord. Both 6 feet, $1400 and $1550, respectively. $2950. Fantastic!! Thank you Ray Kimber! Our most honored member!
UMP-USB - Perfect Music Purifier USB Digital Cable 1.0 Meter, X1= $530. IMP-XLR - Perfect Music Purifier Interconnect Cable (XLR Connector) 1.5 Meter, X1= $835.
IAMP - Incredible AC Purifier Power Cord 1.5 Meter, X2=$1300. Total $2665. Thank you UIT and Mitch
Ko!
From Townshend Audio Presents Townshend Audio Allegri+ Autotransformer Preamplifier, Six RCA inputs and Two RCA Outputs plus convenient 3.5mm input in deluxe aluminum case, wired in original unique Fractal Wire, a first. 100% Passive Unique Design. $2995.
Thank you Dan Meinwald! Townshend Distributor; Ear-USA. Consultant to the Society Board for 16 years!
From WyWires Deluxe Cable Set: Interconnects/Speaker Cables/Power Cord (3 total) Incredible performance. Handmade by
WyWires. $2500. Thank you Alex Sventitsky!
From Stein Music: The Deluxe Basic Harmonizer Kit! Includes
newly revised Harmonizer A & B, Blue Sun stones, and COOL stands for the Harmonizers. Winner of Golden Ear Award in TAS! Easy and fun to use. $2295.
Thank you Holger Stein!, our International SVP!
From Roger Skoff: Creator of XLO Cables, presents World Premiere RSX Audio Cables: New best in the world! Available this fall! $2500 Gift Certificate for anything in the line, your choice! Thank you Roger Skoff!
From Bradford Renaissance Portraits: I am thrilled to confirm their participation of in your upcoming raffle. They will donate a family or individual (sorry, no pets) sitting, plus one 16 x 20 wall portrait on canvas richly embellished by our renown artist. This painting like portrait goes for $5000. Thank you Kelsey Nakken, GM Bradford Portraits!
From Kirmuss Audio: KA-RC-1 Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Restoration System $850.
Thank you Dr. Charles Kirmuss!
From Darin Fong Out Of Your Head Experience for Headphones! Out Of Your Head is advanced audio software that replicates the experience of listening to high-end speakers using only headphones. Includes license for system $149 plus ALL additional speaker options at $24.95 each. Total Prize $900. Thank you, Darin Fong!
From Parasound Halo JC3 Junior, designed by genius John Curl, extraordinary phono stage and a sure winner in any system. Number one phono stage bargain in all of audio! Does it all, no kidding! $1495. Most original and flexible under $3000! (In my 55 years as an audiophile, the
Junior is unsurpassed in any musical manner or ergonomic feature at its full retail price. Add Ray Kimber's or Joe Kubala's or UIT Audio and Power Cables and really feel the love. Bob Levi). Thank you, Richard
Schram.
From ESS Loudspeakers: AMT 6 with Heil Drivers. Powerful and efficient room-filling sound! $1850. Exciting!!
Thank you, Ricky Caudillo.
From Shure: SRH1540 Professional closed back headphones, gorgeous! Top of the line! $500. Elegant! Thank you Davida
Rochman!
From The San Diego Music and Audio Guild (SDMAG) and Jan Montana donate a Cambridge Audio ID100 "digital audiophile iPod dock" to the raffle. Digitize direct most iPad devices. $150. Thank you
SDMAG!
From Chesky Records: Chesky CD Gift Package selected by David Chesky, Winner Take All! $500. 25 of his latest creations, one lucky winner! Thank you David
Chesky.
From Schiit Audio: the brand-new Vidar Amplifier, two-channel amplifier for stereo or may be strapped for mono. Class AB design, solid state, into 8 ohms 100 watts per channel, 4 ohms is 200 watts!! Just 22 lbs. with a
five year warranty! Amazing SN 115 dB!! $699. Thank you Jason Stoddard and Denise Martin!
From Acoustic Sounds: Five exclusive rare LP test pressings of QRP Releases! $250 each. $1250. Thank you Chad Kassem! Five winners please!
From Eastwind Import: a special handpicked selection of audiophile LPs in honor of Michael Fremer. $350! Thank you Hajime Sato!
From Revel and Harmon Industries: A pair of Revel M16 Monitors in high gloss black. Editor's Choice Award 2018, TAS. $900. Thank you Kevin
Voecks!
From Reference Recordings: "RR Gala Package- Prof. Johnson's Favorites" Personally selected by Keith Johnson for our 25th Anniversary Gala Raffle!! Thank you Keith Johnson and Marcia Martin!
From RIVA Audio: The Concert One. An amazing all in one stereo speaker system with Alexa built-in. Eliminates the need for two speakers with great full sound. An original and unique musical treasure. $199! Thank you Christine
McKibban!
From Mr. Speaker: World Renowned AEON open back headphones! Built just for the occasion of our Gala. Honored by virtually everyone! $799. Killer cans these! Thank you Dan Clark!
From EAT: brilliant original Jo No. 5 MC phono cartridge! Supplied in limited edition display case. Received rave reviews from Michael Fremer of Analog Planet and Robert H. Levi, Positive Feedback. $1395. Thank you Nancy Weiner, Director-General VANA Distribution.
"Hi Bob, Looking forward to the Gala on Dec 3rd. Please add three of our New Styles Ergo21 Seat Cushions as the giveaway to the list! We are honored! Thank you, Steve Gambhir." We are honored!
Whitledge Designs raffle donation a free system
performance assessment using state-of-the-art computerized measurement equipment.This gift has a value of over
$1000! Thanks Jon Whitledge.
This very special raffle is only available to those that attend! We look forward to seeing you at our 25th Annual Gala!
Bob Levi
President and CEO
Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society
Celebrating Our 25th Anniversary! Now with over 2600 Members!
8144 E Bailey Way
Anaheim, CA 92808
(714) 281-5850
10 / 10 / 18
McIntosh MC312 Stereo Power Amplifier With 300 Watts Per Channel McIntosh, with over 65 years of expertise, is proud to announce their MC312 stereo power amplifier ($7000). Like the MC302 that it replaces, the MC312 is a 300 Watts per channel stereo amplifier and is a great choice to power virtually any home audio system. The full 300 Watts can be delivered to almost any speakers regardless if they have 2, 4, or 8 Ohm impedance thanks to McIntosh's unique Autoformer technology. The MC312 has received numerous improvements over the previous model including a filter capacity that has been doubled, which increases dynamic headroom an impressive 27% from 1.8dB to 2.3dB. This increase means the MC312 will be even better suited to handle wide dynamic swings in music. Distortion prevention and bass performance also benefit from the increased filter capacity. Direct LED backlighting now illuminates the front panel for improved color accuracy. The audio output Autoformers still straddle the power transformer, yet are now located in new enclosures that are capped by a single cover containing glass inserts that show the wiring diagram for each transformer. Other updates include the addition of our Monogrammed Heatsinks and McIntosh's eco-friendly power management system. Numerous circuit components and internal wiring have also been upgraded. Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs have been added to enable
bi-amp'ing or tri-amp'ing speakers; they can also be used to connect to a secondary system if the preamplifier doesn't have enough connections, or to connect a powered subwoofer. The MC312 is packed full of other exclusive McIntosh technologies including: Power Guard, Sentry Monitor, Power Control, and our patented Solid Cinch speaker binding posts.
AES NYC Holds Facebook 360 Immersive Media Production Workshop The 145th AES International Convention in New York City will host a number of exciting educational events. One of the most intriguing is a half-day training session in immersive media production using the Facebook 360 platform. The workshop will cover the end-to-end workflow for spatial audio design and asset preparation of 360 and 180 immersive videos using Facebook 360 Spatial Workstation tools. This workshop is the result of a unique partnership between Facebook and the AES to provide hands-on training in 360 audio and video development during AES New York 2018.
The workshop, led by Abesh Thakur of Facebook 360, and Latin Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer and AES Past President Andres Mayo, will be held at the Jacob Javits Center on Friday, October 19. There will be identical morning and afternoon sessions with enrollment limited to 35 attendees for each session. The workshops complement the immersive audio content in the four-day AES New York 2018 Technical Program, taking place October 17th through 20th. The workshop will cover the end-to-end workflow for spatial audio design and asset preparation of 360 and 180 immersive videos using the Facebook 360 Spatial Workstation tools. The content will address the following:
What is spatial audio? Why is it important for Immersive videos?
Devialet Phantom Reactor
Brings Big Sound And 900W Within A Small Package Meet the new, smaller than previous models, Devialet Phantom Reactor ($999, €990, and £990). This new breed of wireless speaker is said to bring life the company's only ultra-compact home sound system capable of delivering high fidelity and physical impact, whatever volume you listen at. Insanely powerful at upwards of 900 Watts, producing 18Hz to 21kHz frequency response, yet is a compact 219mm wide by 168mm deep package. A Devialet-patented technology, Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH) gives you all the sophistication of audiophile-grade analog with all the power and compactness of Class D digital. Devialet invented SAM mathematical model to ensure immaculate fidelity all throughout playback. Whether you're dealing with transients or steady-state signal, the degree of information processed by SAM surpasses what you may have felt is possible from such a small package. This enables Phantom to reproduce the
intricate rhythm and tempo of your music with precision so you can feel every last emotion, true to the original master tape. Devialet's HBI is a one-of-a-kind system, designed to take you deeper into sound. For the first time, an ultra-compact home speaker is able to reproduce ridiculously low bass that resonates beyond the limits of the
human ear, throughout your entire body. Unleash your music's full potential all the way down to 18Hz. All those audiophile keywords and technologies are there including 24-bits/192kHz DAC,
AirPlay, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz), plus stereo analog and TosLink optical.
10 / 09 / 18
RMAF 2018 Show Report
-- Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest
Stream Hi-Res Audio Via Next Generation Wi-Fi Connectivity
802.11ax Streaming Hi-Res Music to your Hi-Res Audio system will soon be easier as Wi-Fi 6, based on the IEEE 802.11ax standard, enables next generation Wi-Fi connectivity with upwards of 10.53 Gbps data speed. Wi-Fi 6 will provide the capacity, coverage, and performance required by
users -- even in dense environments such as stadiums and other public venues. Wi-Fi 6 networks enable lower battery consumption in Wi-Fi 6 devices, making it a solid choice for any environment, including smart home and IoT uses. Key benefits of Wi-Fi 6 technology include higher data rates (current 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 5, is 3.46 Gbps), increased capacity, good performance in dense environments, and improved power efficiency. Wi-Fi 6 provides the foundation for a host of existing and emerging uses from streaming ultra high-definition movies at home or on the go, to mission-critical business applications requiring high bandwidth and low latency, to staying connected and productive while traversing large, congested networks in airports and train stations. Uplink and downlink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) increases efficiency and lowers latency for high demand environments.
A new 1024 quadrature amplitude modulation mode (1024-QAM) enables peak gigabit speeds for emerging, bandwidth-intensive use cases. There's improved medium access control (MAC) control signaling increases throughput and capacity while reducing latency. Increased symbol durations make outdoor network operations more robust.
Pro-Ject's 2Xperience The Beatles White Album Limited Edition Turntable Pro-Ject is filled with great honor and pleasure as they announce their partnership with The Universal Music Group and The Beatles to bring out another Beatles themed turntable (€1499 including VAT). The White album was the most anticipated Beatles record of all. Released November 22nd, 1968 it contained hits like "Dear Prudence", "Back in the USSR" or "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Now it's time to celebrate its 50th anniversary in style! In celebration of the 50th jubilee of the Beatles classic White Album, Universal Music Group is releasing the iconic album again. Everything has been
re-mastered from the original four track and eight track session tapes by an expert team of engineers and audio restoration specialists in the Abbey Road Studios in London. On November 9th, 2018, The Beatles will release a suite of lavishly presented 'White Album' packages, including
180 gram DLP Vinyl. These 'White Album' sets also contain never released material and studio outtakes from the original recording sessions, as well as a 5.1 audio Blu-ray disc and a total of six CDs (White Album, Esher Demos, Sessions). Pro-Ject's 2Xperience The Beatles White Album
Limited edition turntable is strictly limited in numbers and features electronic speed control with 33/45 rpm speed change. A heavy acrylic platter bring solidity while the diamond-cut drive pulley and record clamp tightens record to platter. A
resonance-optimized MDF chassis is in white mat, as is the included audiophile-grade 9" CC Evo tonearm with
inverted tonearm bearings (ABEC). Act fast as this very limited edition of only 500 pieces worldwide may sell out quickly.
Boston Audio Society: Vintage Analogue Meets Modern DSP The Boston Audio Society (BAS), founded in 1972 as an independent non-profit member supported organization promoting the highest quality of music reproduction and home theater plus high standards in recording and transmission, will be featuring Dirac Live Digital Room Correction, JBL 4344Mk2 speakers, and Berning Siegfried amplification on Sunday October 21 @ 6PM in Lexington-Note place. BAS member Ken Schwarz will demonstrate what can be achieved by combining vintage high-end audio gear with modern digital correction. Large-format, horn-driven speakers of the 1970s-1990s produce an effortless and full-range sound, but can be difficult to position and adjust for low coloration. Ken's using an inexpensive MiniDSP-based Dirac Live processor to judiciously clean up residual amplitude and phase errors as well as to provide a line-level crossover into
bi-amp'ed JBL 4344Mk2 speakers. Bass is driven by a Crown PS-400 solid-state amp, and mid/HF/UHF is driven by a Berning Siegfried amp, an unusual 10W, single-ended triode, output transformerless (OTL) design. Attendees are encouraged to bring CDs, SACDs, LPs, or Mp3s of music they'd like to hear in the system. Refreshments will be provided at 6PM. You may
contact BAS for directions from their website.
10 / 08 / 18
RMAF 2018 Show Report
-- Rocky Mountain International Audio Fest
Hi-Fi World's
November 2018 Issue Features Great Articles And Reviews
Hi-Fi
World's November 2018 issue features your chance to win a Evo 3 Corvus mains distribution box worth £500! Reviews within this issue includes PMC twenty5.26 speakers, Onkyo TX-RZ830 AV receiver, Chord Qutest DAC, NAD C328 digital hybrid amplifier, Jays m-Six wireless in-ear headphones, IsoTek EVO3 Ascension mains cable, Linn Selekt DSM, ARCAM Solo Movie 5.1, Scheu Cello Classic Evolution turntable, Longdog Audio MCj3 hybrid phonostage, Sugarcube SC-1 Hi-Res click remover and more!
Within his editorial
Noel Keywood says "Large studio monitor loudspeakers have always been objects
of awe. Both JBL and Tannoy are names to be reckoned with, making products few of us can afford – or fit in the home.
These days B&W are popular in many studios, their big 801s being a common sight. I know Abbey Road studios in St John's
Wood, North London and a mile or so distant from our offices, use them from my visits there to carry out
interviews, attend press receptions and what have you. Meanwhile, down at Metropolis Studios in
Chiswick, West London, who also hold press events and host small shows, they use looming PMC professional studio monitors –
the MB2S with its distinctive inverted basket bass drivers. This little beastie has a 75mm fabric dome midrange to
deliver crucial vocals – a common studio practice where they demand to hear every part of what is being sung. With this
in mind we were pleased to be able to bring in PMC's twenty5.26 loudspeakers for review this month, their only
domestic product with a midrange dome. Would they bring the studio into our listening room we wondered? You can find out
on p10."
See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World and read the complete editorial at this link.
