Top Audio & Video 2003 Milan, Italy

Friday Part 2

 

  Marantz had their DV-2S2 (€3,500) universal digital disc player capable of playing CD, CD-R, DVD-Audio/Video, and SACD. The usual surround sound decoding plus PAL progressive scan are included.

 

Specializing in producing great original jazz recordings is Red Records. They also remaster many legendary recordings as well.

 

Denon's DVD-2900 universal disc player provides virtually the same features as the previously mentioned Marantz unit, yet also has a Pure Direct mode to insure a clean signal without unnecessary circuitry depending on what is being played.

 

Not something usually seen at show is the classic 1952 jukebox 120 selection 45rpm records player.

 

Also at the show was a 1961 Victrola style V-IV. Note the wood horn, said by those who know to be the best of the breed.

 

Fun quiz time and the first person that e-mail's me at... with the correct answer will win a prize. The question is: "What it is about this new KEF XQ1 three-way monitor that puts a big smile on my face? (NOTE: we had a winner within 3 minutes of this posting. Congratulations David B!) As for specifics about this design, it employs KEF's dual-concentric 6.5-inch driver and a top mounted supertweeter. Frequency response is from 60Hz to 55kHz (+-3dB) and is bi-wireable.

And the answer to the quiz: The KEF loudspeakers are in Ferrari red :-)   Thanks for playing our game :-)

 

Making good music at the Milan show was Linn Italia with the Unidisk 1,1 digital disc player, Kristo surround sound pre-amplifier, a few 2250 amplifiers and their Akurate 242 floorstanding loudspeakers. Below is the wonderful Linn representatives.

 

TEAC's answer to the universal digital disc players is their model DV-50 (€5,636) with both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) stereo outputs plus a variety of RCA outputs for surround sound. Note the solid metal-topped disc holder and separation of various electronic stages for signal purity and reducing the negative consequences of cross inference.

 

Click here for Saturday's coverage.