06 / 13 / 03
PureAudio, an
audio retailer, is now offering several new products from Europe and Asia for high-end audio
enthusiasts. PureAudio now provides US consumers with the Ming Da 300B/845 monoblock amplifiers and the ultra-high resolving Xindak Foil Speaker cables. The Ming Da
MC300B/845A power amplifiers ($10,000, pictured here) are dual chassis monoblocks from Asia that combine 300B as driver with a 845 for output. Sporting a separate 60-pound power supply chassis for each channel, this double-decker design has a refined look in techno-chrome. The Ming Da amplifiers deliver 70 watts of pure "Class A". The Xindak
FS-01 5N copper foil loudspeaker cables ($595 first meter, $150 per additional meter) includes RFI and vibration attenuation at each end.
Threshold Audio,
Inc. is offering a special summer upgrade program. Audiophiles can exchange their old amplifier for a $1,000 credit toward Threshold's new S/5000e stereo amplifier. The S/5000e delivers 250 watts per channel into 8 ohms (400 watts at 4 ohms) and was launched last month at a special introductory retail price of $2,500. The S/5000e offers traditional Threshold solid build-quality, key circuit topologies from the STASIS 8.0, and remote on/off triggering for home theater applications. The S/5000e comes with a full three-year warranty.
06 / 12 / 03
Acoustic Transducer Company
(ATC) has announced their Concept 5 surround sound loudspeaker system. Comprising of four Active 20 monitors, one dedicated horizontal Active center channel, and one Active sub bass 12 ($19,600), the Concept 5 system further
expands ATC's product line for multi-channel audio enthusiasts. The Active 20 has a curvilinear (20 litre) enclosure with included two-way monoblock amplifiers (50 watts to the tweeter and 200 watts to the midrange/bass driver). Midrange and bass is produced by a 6-inch driver while a new, extended 25mm high frequency driver produces the uppermost frequencies. The C5 Active center channel features a pair of 6-inch
midrange/bass drivers while subwoofer duties are handled by a 12-inch driver with 1,000 watt on-board amplifier. The Active 20 monitor loudspeakers come in an attractive grey 2-tone high gloss acrylic laminated and
anodized aluminum finish. The cabinet has been designed for structural integrity to eliminate unwanted resonance and vibration.
Simaudio Ltd.
has introduced their new MOON Equinox CD player ($1,995) as the newest addition to the MOON Audio Reference series of audio components. Based on the same aesthetics of their MOON Eclipse CD player, the Equinox is claimed to provide "audiophile performance in a very affordable package". Separate digital and analog power supplies with seven stages of voltage regulation insure a clean, steady power source for the electronics. A Philips-based transport mechanism includes in-house developed software while
Burr Brown BB1730E 24-bit/96kHz DACs operating at 8X oversampling handle digital data duties. This is augmented by internal upsampling to achieve 24-bit/352.8kHz resolution. An accurate to 25ppm digital clocking system is claimed to insure low intrinsic jitter levels. The low impedance analog output allows for ease of system matching and can drive long interconnects. The analog stage is very short to reduce potential for interference and sonic degradation
while the pure copper circuit board tracings have low impedance characteristics.
06 / 11 / 03
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is rejoicing as the U.S. Court of Appeals rejected the request of Verizon to stay an earlier court ruling ordering the ISP to turn over the identifying information of two subscribers. According to the RIAA,
these two subscribers were allegedly illegally offering hundreds of copyrighted songs over the Internet. Cary Sherman, President of the RIAA, said "When Congress enacted the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), it deliberately balanced the interests of Internet service providers (ISPs) and copyright holders. ISPs were given immunity from liability for piracy on their networks, while copyright holders were given a quick and efficient mechanism to learn the identity of computer users who were stealing their works... The Court of Appeals decision confirms our long-held position that music pirates must be held accountable for their actions, and not be allowed to hide behind the company that provides their Internet service. The courts have repeatedly affirmed that the DMCA subpoena authority is constitutional, and does not threaten anyone's free speech or privacy rights. Given that an epidemic of illegal downloading is threatening the livelihoods of artists, songwriters and tens of thousands of other recording industry workers who bring music to the public, we look forward to Verizon's speedy compliance with this
ruling."
The
Aliante Stile SW was designed as an evolution of the company's Stile
PF. A new 5-inch coated paper mid-woofer driver replaces the 4-inch unit used in the Stile PF, improving bass response and extension. The 1-inch soft dome tweeter features coated silk fabric and a shielded magnet that provides a decompression back chamber function. The tweeter voice coil works in a low viscosity magnetic fluid for better power handling, more acoustic damping and improved cooling. The cabinet has been improved in several ways including larger the internal volume while the solid wood staves cabinet is formed by hand. Specifications are as
follows:
Type: two-way bass-reflex
Sensitivity: 88dB/W/m
Frequency Response: 45Hz-25KHz (+/- 3dB)
Woofer: 5 inch coated paper
Tweeter: 1 inch soft-dome (silk textile)
Power Handling: 80 watts RMS, 125 watts peak
Impedance: 6 ohms, min 4 ohms
Finish: Solid Walnut, Solid Cherry
Dimensions: 16 x 10 x 14 (HxWxD in inches)
Weight: 30 lbs.
Retail Price: $1,495 per pair
Densen
of Denmark has announced the successor to their well-received B-400. Densen's B-400 PLUS CD player is crafted with extruded aluminum (black or Albino silver) while precision 0.02mm and military spec components reside internally. The most prominent feature in the new PLUS version is the new 24-bit digital to analog converter that is based on their XS DAC. A custom-made for Densen transport includes a special glassoptic laser mounted within an extremely rigid structure to protect the mechanism against airborne vibrations. The critical analog stage is amplified by a non-feedback "Class A" circuitry. Current owners of the B-400 can upgrade to B-400 PLUS
status for a nominal fee.
On November 8th and 9th of 2003 at Centro congressi Midas Jolly Hotel in Rome (Italy) will take place (for the third consecutive year) the
MILANO HI-END
2003 International only two channel hi-fi show (no TV, Surround Sound, Home
theater, Car Audio are admitted). This is the only true stereo Hi-Fi show in Europe. Last year the show was visited by nearly 4,000 enthusiasts who appreciated "the opportunity to listen to a proper
demonstration without heart quake noise coming from near-by (that is two or three floors
above or under) home theater surround sound".
06 / 01 to 06 / 10
Enjoy the Music.com™
has completed reporting live on two audiophile shows. Our virtually live coverage of the High End Society's Frankfurt Germany show (May 29 to June
1) showcased one of Europe's largest audiophile events. Only a few days after the Frankfurt report,
Enjoy the Music.com™ began our live coverage of
PRIMEDIA's (Stereophile) San Francisco show.
All reports are now complete and online for the world to enjoy.
High-Performance Audio Reviews
