115^th AES Convention

Part 2

  Telefunkin had their new version of the U47 ($5,500 to $7,500 depending on which vacuum tube you desire) microphone that is claimed to be directly like its legendary predecessor. It is the same circuitry as before that has been cherished by thousand of recording engineers and million of music lovers alike.

Linn, like i need to tell you their credentials, had their 318A (right) four-way active monitor loudspeaker. The acoustically optimized 3-K driver array has a dedicated 500 watt amplifier while the 8-inch servo-controlled bass driver also has a built in 500 watt amplifier yet includes an active crossover. The Linn 318A is designed for reference monitoring within moderately sized control rooms in applications such as music recording, mixing and mastering, radio production, film post production, and TV production and post production. The Linn 328A adds a second 8 inch driver and a more curvaceous cabinet.

D2AUDIO offers plug-in boxes that can be pure digital amplifiers, digital crossovers, DSP modules, etc. From parametric equalization to volume control, these are digital do-it-all boxes that other manufacturers can employ within their products. D2AUDIO also hired lovely models (twins) for photo opportunities which begs the question...

...if one in the hand is worth two in the bush,
then what is a great pair worth?

Get in the groove baby with Groove Tubes!

Seen here is EveAnna Manley standing with the TEC (Technical Excellence and Creativity) award in the difficult signal processor category for the Manley Labs SLAM (Stereo Limiter And Microphone) pre-amplifier. proof that Manley Labs is not just for audiophiles, but also very well respected to recording engineers and mixing/mastering engineers too.

Cirrus Logic, manufacture of various processing chips and the like, was touting their new CS8406 (industry news?) capable of full 24-bit/192kHz DVD-Audio surround sound at a price of only $2 each chip (in 10k quantity).

Analog from the 40's.
A large Fairchild transcription turntable.
Note the label as seen below.

A few days ago Sony had an SACD press meeting announcing an AOL-like plan. They would attempt to saturate the market with free SACD music within issues of Rolling Stone magazine. Naturally this would come with a mention to visit a retailer to hear the potential of the music contained on the disc. Meanwhile Panasonic was on the battlefield by announcing the first consumer car, Acura TL, that includes DVD-Audio capability. The format war is alive and well my friends and i could hear many within the professional audio industry still shaking their heads at this continual format war. Over three years and counting my friend. How about they 9DVD-Audio and SACD) kiss and makeup to have everyone offer universal players? We have seen the Betamax versus VHS battle before and hope Sony would have licked their wounds and learned their lesson. Win... lose... it is good to see the public educated that there is better than CD (and mp3) sound quality available.

Offering 24-bit/192kHz in a small package, Apogee's Mini-DAC ($995) has digital through, USB, comprehensive level monitoring, line and headphone level output with AES/EBU, S/PDIF and other digital inputs.

At the Furman Sound booth was their highly acclaimed IT-Reference symmetrical/balanced power unit. They had a computer showing the difference between their unit and the Equi=Tech. Note the noise levels the Furman Sound unit filtered down to (in blue) versus the Equi=Tech (green). Feel free to read my review of the Furman Sound IT-Reference by clicking here.

Click here for main AES 2003 show page.