Monrio MC 207-NC Solid-State Stereo
Integrated Amplifier Monrio's largest and most powerful integrated amplifier, the MC 207-NC, sits squarely within the company's core product ranges. The model line-up so far consisted of the MC 202,
MC 200, MC 205 and MC 207. With the MC 207-NC, Monrio are introducing a further refined version of the MC 207. Monrio's new MC 207-NC features the latest circuit topology and top-notch materials. MC 207-NC feel they have a "Sound quality that has reached an even higher level than before, presenting a superbly matched blend of performance, features and musicality". The circuitry of the MC 207-NC remains essentially unchanged, relying on a single big printed circuit board capable of receiving all the necessary updates in order to keep the amplifier current within market demands. Their main circuit board carries the output stage and power supply, whilst a sub-board carries the low-level audio stage. Power transistors used in the output stage are designed for audio application. By connecting these devices in a quasi-complementary configuration (all transistors used are of NPN type), Monrio's MC 207-NC delivers a high-quality power output capabilities rated for 140
Watts into 8
Ohms (280 Wpc @ 4 Ohms). Frequency response is from 10Hz to 100 kHz with a vanishingly
low THD of 0.03%. This unit take advantage of a 500 VA power transformers plus four large electrolytic capacitors rated for 10,000 uF each. This assures ample power reserves for reproduction of demanding bass passages. The
MC 207-NC offers four stereo line high level inputs via unbalanced RCA, a dedicated unity gain A/V Direct input for use with a home theater processor, plus a tape loop. An optional USB
Type B module allows the MC 207-NC to be connected to an Internet network.
07 / 28 / 17
Australian Hi-Fi Magazine's
July / August Issue Is Now
Available This issue of
Australian Hi-Fi features
HIGH END Munich show report plus sound bites
of the Dali Wireless, Audeze Sine DX, E.A.T. B-Sharp, AM Relaunch, Sonos Playbase, Sennheiser HDV820, Pioneer XDP-30R, Inakustik, Sonic Purity, Audio-Tech DSR7BT, Boulder 3010, Melco 2nd Gen DML, Leica Headphones, Revox, Nagra HD Pre, Rega in Red, Wharfedale Diamond 11, Billie Jorgen Series 5 and more.
High-end audio equipment reviews include the Mitchell & Johnson SAP201V integrated AmpliDAC, Castle Avon 4 loudspeakers, Pioneer PD-30AE CD player, Pryma 01 headphones, Boenicke W8 loudspeakers, JL Audio Fathom F112v2 subwoofer, and JPLAY software for music.
Within his editorial "DSD And Dynamic Range", Greg Borrowman says
"I am always disappointed when I read misinformation on the internet. Firstly because it is misinformation, and the more of it there is on the internet, the less useful the internet becomes. Secondly because of the number of people who will be deceived by this
information and make poor decisions (and/or purchases) as a result. And thirdly because of the number of people who will not only be deceived by the misinformation, but will also promulgate it, which in turn will lead to more of my first-identified disappointment. The spread of misinformation on the internet is so virus-like that it would seem to be immaterial where it first appears, or re-appears, but in fact this is important, because most people reading any information will base their opinion of whether it's true or not on the source itself. So if I read something about beauty products having been proved to work on a website that sells those self-same beauty products, I am going to take that information with a grain of salt."
See what's within this issue of Australian Hi-Fi at this
link.
UK Music Enjoys 11.2% Gain In
First Half Of 2017 According to the
Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), a trade group representing UK digital services plus digital and physical retailers, says in their recent report that music sales are up 11.2% in the first half of 2017 as compared to 2016. Music sales in 2017 climbed to reach £564.7 million in sales. Ed Sheeran trumps Star Wars and Fantastic Beasts to deliver 2017's biggest seller so far. ERA says that a key factor in the soaring growth was increasing take-up of streaming music services. Even with ERA considering videos and video games, music is by far the star performer of the three sectors. With growth of 11.2% in the first half of 2017 compared with the same period of 2016. Music also delivered the biggest-selling title in ERA's Entertainment Chart combining sales of music, video and games, with Ed Sheeran's
Divide selling 2.065m units, well ahead of Rogue One – A Star Wars Story with sales of 1.18m and
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them on 1.032m. As a point of interest, overall entertainment sales increased 6.4% to £2.997 million in the first six months of 2017 compared with £2.817 million in the same period of 2016. And thus yes my friends, music grew fastest at 11.2%, followed by games at 8.4% and video at 1.2%.
07 / 26 / 17
Home Audio Revenues On Target To Grow 17% In 2017 A new report from
Futuresource Consulting
shows the home audio market continues to outpace the wider home electronics market. Home audio revenues grew by 20% in 2016 to $11.7 billion (at trade) and are on course to grow a further 17% in 2017,
benefiting from the success of smart speakers coupled with the continued growth of soundbars as well as Bluetooth speakers in emerging markets. Meanwhile, the rest of the home electronics market fell 2% in 2016. Wireless speakers alone grew 32% and generated revenues of $6.2 billion in 2016, while soundbar revenues grew 18% to generate $2.7 billion. However, the story is not so good for many legacy categories such as hi-fi's and loudspeakers and home-theatre-in-a-box
systems. "While soundbars are becoming the default TV-centric audio solution, wireless speakers in various shapes and sizes are replacing hi-fi's, radios and speaker-docks throughout the home," says Zlata Jelisejeva, Research Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. "As a recent example, we are seeing the emergence of the party wireless speaker category starting to
cannibalize sales of the corresponding hi-fi systems market. Also of note is
that, "Despite fuelling market growth, we expect voice assistants to disrupt the audio hardware market moving forward, affecting prices, competition and of course usage. Amazon launched Echo and its derivatives at competitive price points and continue to command over 90% of smart speaker's sales. Meanwhile, this category is expected to become a platform battleground for the likes of Apple, Google, Microsoft and
Amazon," adds Rasika D'Souza, Senior Market Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. By 2021, Futuresource estimates that 27% of home audio devices will feature
multi-room support. The demand for 3D audio (or object-oriented sound), such as Dolby Atmos, is set to increase, although content availability remains limited and the percentage of home audio devices including 3D audio playback stood at around 5% at end of 2016.
Industry News 10 Years Ago
7" Vinyl LP Sales Are White Hot Within The UK It is a good day to be 7 inches! Forget CD, DVD-Audio, and SACD, the hot product is that
quirky-sized 7-inch vinyl
record within the UK! While the RIAA, IFPI and others cry about declining digital disc sales, in
the UK we find that 7-inch vinyl record sales are experiencing tremendous growth as annual sales increase from just over 200,000 units in 2000 to more than 1 million units in 2006. During the first half of 2007 there has been
a further increase
in sales of 12.9 percent compared to the same time period in 2006, with the White Stripes'
Icky Thump as the best seller. This report comes from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), an organization that represents the UK recorded music industry, with membership comprising of hundreds of music companies including all four
major record companies, associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies representing literally thousands of
labels.
07 / 25 / 17
James Loudspeaker Ultra High-Performance Q-Series Speakers James Loudspeaker
has announced the introduction of their Q-Series floorstanding loudspeakers, which are a built-to-suit array of three models offering the company's unmatched resolution, detail and dynamic realism. In addition to three standard models, James
Loudspeaker's Q-Series can be custom sized and finished to meet the exact needs of any environment. Leveraging the technology in James' highly successful flagship BE-Series in-wall speakers, all three Q-Series models employ a rigid, reinforced MDF enclosure, a stylish grille made from elegantly coated aluminum bar stock and the signature James Loudspeaker 1" Beryllium quad tweeter array. Each model is capable of handling enormous amounts of amplifier power, delivering "undistorted, crystal clear audio even at massively high output levels". Aesthetically inspired by the majestic shape of beautiful Quartz crystals as found in nature, the Q-Series can be produced for both stereo and home theater. The Q60 ($15,000 each) has been engineered to use two amplifiers (bi-amplification), one for the full-range portion of the speaker and another for the internal 12" down-firing aluminum cone subwoofer. Above the 12" subwoofer, which features a 3" voice coil capable of handling 1000+ watts of power, the Q60 utilizes a three-way system comprised of two 8" woofers, two 6.5" midranges and the Beryllium quad tweeter array. James Loudspeaker's new Q48 ($10,000 each) implements the same
bi-amp'ed system and 12" subwoofer as the Q60, utilizing a pair of 8" woofers, two 5.25" midrange drivers and the Beryllium quad tweeter array. Lastly, the Q30 ($6000 each) has been meticulously tuned to deliver a highly refined listening experience from a small floor-standing form factor. Like the Q60 and Q48, the Q30 features the Beryllium quad tweeter array. It is mated with an 8" midrange and 8" long-excursion woofer that both feature aluminum cones with Santoprene rubber surrounds.
07 / 24 / 17
M2Tech Young MkIII DAC/Pre And Van Der Graaf MkII Power Supply M2Tech
is proud to introduce the Young MkIII 32-bit/384kHz DAC/preamplifier and Van Der Graaf MkII low noise power supply. Their new Young MkIII improves the sonic qualities of the company's previous offerings while adding useful features that allow users to more fully enjoy their
favorite music. The Young MkIII retains the basic hardware structure of the Young DSD, with the Xilinx FPGA handling the input signals and feeding the PCM1795 DAC IC, as well as the proprietary output buffer structure with passive anti-alias filter and the servos to remove the I/V offset, directly driving the CS3318 volume control/buffer. A new XMOS USB interface implements MQA decoding, while native DSD is now accepted up to 256x. The input set includes a
Bluetooth receiver with aptX. To complete the input set, a single-ended analog inputs is provided, so that the Young MkIII may be used as a preamplifier to drive a power amp or powered speakers, also thanks to the output voltage doubling feature which allows the Young MkIII to deliver up to 10Vrms (balanced) and 5Vrms (single ended). This unit can be controlled via Bluetooth thanks to an Android app. M2Tech's Van Der Graaf MkII low noise power supply is a perfect companion to the Young MkIII DAC/preamplifier. Thanks to this high-end power supply, it is said to provide a "crystal clear supply current... which impacts positively on several areas: clock jitter reduction, signal-to-noise ratio improvement, etc." M2Tech's new power supply is able to remember the order the user followed while enabling the outputs, so that the same order is used in subsequent Van Der Graaf activations. This allow for eliminating unwanted "bumps" at power on and power off, at the same time using a single button to power the whole system on and off. Van Der Graaf MkII is provided with four outputs: two single voltage outputs with 9V or 15V output and two three-voltage outputs to drive units like the old Marley headphones amplifier or future units within M2Tech's new Rockstars Series.
07 / 21 / 17
Multi-Grammy Nominated Mike Stern Releases New Album
Trip Multiple Grammy-nominated guitarist and former member of Miles Davis' band during the early 1980s, Mike Stern
is set to release his new album Trip on Heads Up label. Following an accident that left Mike unable
to tour, he is now back on the scene and co-leading a band with longtime friend, collaborator, and drummer Dave Weckl. Mike and his band mates went into Spin Studio in Long Island City between January and March of 2017 to record his 17th album as a leader. The guitarist's sly, self-deprecating sense of humor comes across in the title of the album,
Trip, as well as on individual tracks like "Screws" (he initially had 11 screws put into his arm following his first surgery) and "Scotch Tape and Glue" (his current method for holding onto the pick). A powerhouse outing,
Trip, set for release on September 8, 2017 via Heads Up, a division of Concord Music Group, features such longstanding colleagues as trumpeters Randy Brecker and Wallace Roney, saxophonists Bob Franceschini and Bill Evans, the latter a bandmate in Miles Davis' 'comeback band' of 1981, bassists Victor Wooten and Tom Kennedy and drummers Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers and Lenny White. Produced by pianist-keyboardist Jim Beard, Stern's frequent producer going back to 1991's Odds or Evens,
Trip is a brilliant showcase of what the acclaimed guitarist does best –
riffing on post-Miles funk-fusion ("Trip," "Screws," "Watchacallit"), urgent swingers ("Half Crazy," "Scotch Tape and Glue," "B Train") and lyrical ballads ("Emilia," "I Believe You"). His wife Leni Stern guests on two tracks, playing the n'goni (a three-stringed African instrument) on the buoyant "Emilia," which also features Gio Moratti on backup vocals, and the uplifting ballad "I Believe You." Other performers on
Trip include percussionists Arto Tuncboyaciyan and Elhadji Alioune Faye, Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun and bassists Teymur Phell and Edmond Gilmore, both of whom currently work with Stern on his regular Monday and Wednesday night residency at the 55 Bar in the heart of Greenwich Village.
Below is a video from one of Mike's performances with Dave Weckl.
Commercial Launch Of The Genesis Mæstro Floorstanding Loudspeaker Genesis Advanced Technologies
has just announced the commercial launch of their Genesis 5-series loudspeaker. "There have been five generations of this loudspeaker since the Genesis V debuted in 1994" said Mr. Gary Leonard Koh, CEO and Chief Designer of Genesis. "There are many who love the form factor, and how fits into a small room. Since the last iteration of this series was launched in 2006, it was time to update the design. Having listened carefully to the feedback from our loyal end users, many of the greatly admired sonic characteristics and features of its predecessors have been incorporated into the new Mæstro and updated with the latest technology." The Genesis Mæstro loudspeaker is a five-way loudspeaker with two Genesis Ring-Radiator Ribbon Tweeters (front and back), a single 4.5" solid Titanium-cone midrange driver, two 6.5" aluminum mid-bass couplers and four 8" woofers with an integrated 500 Watt servo-controlled bass amplifier. Their Mæstro features the Genesis Acoustic Suspension system so that it can be used on the many types of flooring encountered throughout the world – including uneven natural stone tiles, smooth granite, deep pile carpet, and suspended wooden floors. Stainless steel spikes and a suspension frame hold the loudspeaker rigidly for best imaging and bass control. Neoprene decouplers act like shock absorbers, making sure that the cabinet is not affected by floor-borne vibrations. This Genesis loudspeaker systems delivers a frequency range from 20Hz to 40kHz using ribbon tweeters and proprietary solid metal-cone servo-controlled powered woofers.
Industry News 15 Years Ago
Microsoft Supports Computer Music / Video Via Media Center Microsoft is looking to
enhance their usage in everyday life. Previewed during the 2002
CES, XP Media Center will soon be preinstalled on many new computer systems. This
operating system (OS) will allow the use of wireless remote control and other devices
enabling a computer to be a source unit for home-wide entertainment systems. This includes not only music discs and DVD-Audio/Video, but also MP3, WMA,
TV/PVR and other types of
leisure activities. The ability to record TV programs for later viewing (time shifting) is also standard. Hewlett-Packard, NEC and Samsung have been said to be very interested in including XP Media Center to their 2002 computers
shipping later this year.
07 / 18 / 17
MUTEC Empyreal Class With REF 10 10MHz Reference Clock MUTEC
just announced the REF 10 - their audiophile reference master clock (€3598). The MUTEC REF 10 is an audiophile reference master clock generating 10 MHz signals to improve digital playback systems. Engineered around a handcrafted, ultra-low phase noise / jitter oven-controlled oscillator (OCXO) made in Germany, it delivers
industry-leading performance and exceptional sound quality. As the centerpiece of a digital system, the MUTEC REF 10 will "unlock a more dynamic, more transparent sound stage with exceptional spatiality and level of detail, free from any digital blur" says the company. The REF 10 features a clean, intuitive user interface while improving and enhancing compatible DACs, audio re-clockers, music servers, and master clocks. Eight galvanically isolated, individually switchable BNC clock outputs with 50 and 75 Ohm impedance for maximum compatibility with clocks and DACs by other manufacturers. A revolutionary, sub-Hz optimized, lowest noise power supply for every circuit section.
Highly efficient power line filtering. They have also integrated a high-quality international linear power supply. MUTEC's REF 10 is a match for the company's 10 MHz ready products like the MC-3+ and MC-3+USB Smart Clocks. Eight simultaneous clock outputs at both 50 and 75 Ohm impedance allow using the REF10 in combination with not just MUTEC products, but also 10 MHz compatible products by all other third-party manufacturers, such as Esoteric, dCS, or SOtM, for example. The unit comes with a three year extended manufacturer guaranteed warranty.
07 / 17 / 17
Hi-Fi World's
August Issue: Audiophile Equipment Reviews Enjoy the Music.com has just posted the
August 2017 issue of Hi-Fi World
where you could win an OPPO HA-2 SE headphone DAC/amp worth £289! This issue
features reviews of the Tannoy Mercury 7.4 loudspeakers, NAD M32 DAC amplifier / NAD M50.2 server, Sennheiser HD 4.50 Btnc wireless headset, Focal Utopia headphones, Black Rhodium Concerto RCA cable, Garrard Zero-100 turntable, Lenco l-90 turntable, and more.
Within his
editorial, Noel Keywood says "First shown earlier this year at the Bristol Sound&Vision Show, in this issue we finally review a full production Technics SL-1200GR Direct Drive turntable, rather than an early review sample for the press. Interesting that our Timestep tweaked Evo version was better under measurement than its more expensive stablemate, the SL-1200GA. It had none of the measurable cogging everyone likes to talk about – that even Technics mention – even though this phenomenon is minuscule compared to all the stuff a belt drive puts out. What you get from the Technics is a sparklingly clean sound with metronomic precision. If you are looking for a top quality turntable to play LPs then turn to p78 to read our report on this fine piece of technology. There's every likelihood a GR would see out your lifetime and not be bettered over it."
See what's within this issue of Hi-Fi World at this
link.
07 / 14 / 17
Studio Electric Announces m4
Fourth Generation Monitor Speaker Studio Electric
is pleased to announce the launch of the all new m4 monitor ($2750 per pair, less $350 without grills). Building on the success of their award winning SE Monitor, Studio
Electric's new m4 features the company's proprietary highX 6.5" midrange/woofer driver. This is coupled to a modified version of a classic high-performance
1" soft dome tweeter. The asymmetrical crossover network uses custom value capacitors by ClarityCap as well as tight tolerance air-core inductors and non-inductive resistors. Their M4 cabinet construction features graded MDF and HDF with a veneer of a newly developed, sustainable wood product that looks and feels like exotic hardwood. Frequency response is from 44Hz to 22kHz with a sensitivity of 88dB/W/m @ 6 Ohms. Cabinet dimensions are 12" x 8.625" x 15" (HxWxD, sans grill) and they weigh 19 lbs. each.
The Absolute Sound's July Magazine
Features Many Reviews The
Absolute Sound's July 2017 issue features AXPONA show coverage plus reviews of
the Continuum Audio Laboratories Obsidian turntable and Viper tonearm, Technics SL-1200G turntable, DS Audio DS 002 Optical phono cartridge, AMG Giro turntable, Acoustic Signature Challenger Mk3 turntable, Record Doctor V vacuum record cleaner, AudioQuest Conductive Fiber Record Brush, Morrow Audio 5-Series
cables plus Cardas Iridium interconnects and speaker cables.
Within his guest editorial, North American Sales Manager at Musical Surroundings
Allan Moulton says, "Why do people still listen to records? It's the question instinctively asked by nearly all those outside our hobby (and many within) upon learning that there has been, for some time now, a thriving resurgence of a playback technology about to turn 70 years old. That this resurgence has also found an audience in young, 25- to 35-year-old listeners is even more perplexing. The vinylists under 40 aren't still listening to records — they just started listening to records. Against all "reason," they have chosen the pain and expense of an old technology in the face of more accessible and cheaper digital formats. What connects the interests of these new-to-LP listeners with the jaded old guard, which grew up with the LP as the primary playback format? What in the name of perfect sound forever is going on?"
See what's within this issue of The
Absolute Sound at this
link.
07 / 11 / 17
Rotel RA-1572 Int. Amp, RC-1572 Preamp,
& RCD-1572 CD Player Rotel's tradition continues with the latest introduction of three new stereo components as part of the 15 Series. Their RA-1572 stereo integrated amplifier ($1699) recognizes the newfound roles of audio components as a central, cost-effective, music system. Rotel's new RA-1572 is their best example of melding classic analog design with contemporary digital circuits to bring all sources to life with
excellent high-fidelity. Internal circuitry draws on a high capacity power supply based on a Rotel custom designed and in-house manufactured oversized toroidal transformer. Subsequent power supply segments built with tight-tolerance parts including T-Network capacitors provide the exact voltage and current requirements to ensure stress-free signal reproduction.
In recognition of the many digital sources available today, the RA-1572 has a built-in state-of-the-art 32-bit/768kHz AKM digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and
high-end audio quality analog stages. A front panel USB input is provided for easy connection of a wide variety of music storage devices including Apple iPods, iPhones, and iPads. Bluetooth input
also supports aptX for compatible devices. In addition, two each S/PDIF coaxial (RCA) and TosLink optical inputs provide easy connections
for devices with up to 24-bit word lengths sampled at 192kHz. Stereo power output is conservatively rated at 120
Watts per channel into 8 Ohms. Rotel's new RC-1572 stereo preamplifier ($1099) leverages the design of their flagship RC-1590 preamplifier including its 32-bit/768kHz AKM stereo digital-to-analog converter to handle critical signal conversion. Among many refinements, the RC-1572 utilizes relay switching for analog sources instead of an IC based switch to maintain the integrity of the signal path for RCA, phono and XLR inputs. Rotel's RCD-1572 CD player ($899) focuses on careful refinements to reveal even the most subtle nuances buried in a CD's pit spiral. The RCD-1572 elevates performance by utilizing a purpose designed and built CD mechanism along with other circuit refinements. One of the RCD-1572's most important features is the Wolfson WM8740 digital filter/stereo digital-to-analog converter. Originally developed for high resolution sources, it is the product of extensive research and real world testing and processes digital signals up to 24-bits in length at sampling rates from 8 kHz to 192 kHz. Rotel's post-converter analog circuitry benefits from the company's many decades of experiences in crafting the finest sounding pathway from the DAC's internal output to RCA and XLR rear panel connectors that bridge the gap between the RCD-1572 and down-stream components. All circuit components – resistors, capacitors, inductors – are chosen only after their positive contribution to sound quality were quantified and verified qualitatively by extensive listening sessions.
Gold Note Celebrates Their New P-1000 Stereo Preamplifier Gold
Note's P-1000 is the company's first remote control stereo preamplifier to fill their amplification line-up. Operating in pure Class A, this preamplifier was born with a new proprietary six gain stage design and with relays and optical encoder volume control. Powered by a triple linear transformer power supply, Gold Note's P-1000 preamplifier features 10 independent stereo inputs: five fully balanced XLR and five RCA plus a TosLink optional digital input available on demand. All settings can be found on the display allowing quick and precise fine adjustments. The sophisticated volume control is matched with the company's exclusive six single gain stages and Gold Note Ultra-Balanced technology to achieve "incredible low distortion and extended linear bandwidth for true superior musicality". This
preamplifier may be set to Mono/Stereo, and thus allow the left/right channel swap to enable the reproduction of inverted recordings and can swap the absolute phase from 0 to 180 degrees. An Over-Boost function has been developed to drive speakers that require robust power supplies to provide enough energy in the lower range of frequencies. As all Gold Note electronics, P-1000 can be enhanced with external dedicated units, like the tube output stages TUBE1006/1012 and the power supply units PSU1100/1250 for ultimate performances. This unit can be updated with a computer through its rear USB port. Overall frequency response is from 2Hz to 200kHz with a THD of <0.001%. Available finishes for the main
case include brushed aluminum, black or silver. For inserts there is Italian Walnut /
aluminum plus black or silver.
07 / 10 / 17
McIntosh Labs MA9000 300 Wpc
Stereo Integrated Amplifier McIntosh
Laboratory's MA9000 integrated amplifier ($10,500 is the company's largest integrated in both size and
power. It offers 300 Watts per channel stereo and provides 10 stereo analog connections comprised of two balanced and six unbalanced inputs plus a Moving Coil (MC) and Moving Magnet (MM) for turntable connectivity. Both phono inputs feature adjustable loading for fine tuning of vinyl playback. All
RCA unbalanced analog connectors are made from premium gold-plated solid brass for superior signal handling and grounding. On the digital side, two
S/PDIF coax, two TosLink optical, USB and MCT input (for use with McIntosh's MCT450 SACD/CD Transport) are all housed in
McIntosh's new DA1 Digital Audio Module. The DA1 can be easily replaced by future modules to keep your MA9000 up to date as new digital audio formats and technologies are developed. The DA1 utilizes a powerful 8-channel, 32-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) used in Quad Balanced mode. The coax and optical inputs will decode music up to 24-bit/192kHz for high resolution audio playback; the USB input accepts even higher PCM signals up to 32-bit/384kHz and supports up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz. All inputs can be given custom names for user-friendly system control and configuration. McIntosh's MA9000 features their new Monogrammed Heatsinks that are made from high quality materials with excellent thermal conductivity properties.
New, more powerful control microprocessors have been used in the MA9000 to improve overall system operation. Some of the latest audio-grade circuit components have also been utilized to allow the MA9000 to deliver the best sound possible. At 300 Watts per channel, the MA9000 has enough power to properly drive virtually all loudspeakers – and our renowned McIntosh Autoformer guarantees your speakers will always receive that full 300 Watts regardless if they have 2, 4 or 8 Ohm impedance.
07 / 03 / 17
Hi-Fi+'s July Magazine Is Now Available Online Hi-Fi+
Magazine's July 2017 issue features show coverage of HIGH END in
Munich plus reviews of the Jadis JA-80 Mk II Valve mono power amplifiers, Merrill Audio Christine line-level balanced preamplifier, Lejonlou Sagatun Mono 1.3 / Tundra Mono 2 preamplifier and power amplifier, Plinius Hiato integrated amplifier, B.M.C. Audio CS3 integrated amplifier, Jeff Rowland Capri S2 preamplifier, Devialet Expert 1000 amplifier system, ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim floorstanding loudspeaker, Kimber Kable Axios headphone cables, Audioquest
Nightowl Carbon headphones, IsoTek Evo3 Genesis One / Evo3 Titan One AC regenerator and power conditioner, and Rega's
A Vibration Measuring Machine hardback book.
Within his editorial titled "Audio's Potential Bewilderment", Alan Sircom says, "Amplifiers are a pivotal part of the audio system, and arguably represent the most diverse and wide-ranging set of components in the hi-fi firmament. Where else other than the bit between the source and the speaker could you have a state-of-the-art Class D streaming integrated amplifier rub shoulders with a valve power amplifier, passive preamps, using balanced, single-ended, or a raft of different inputs and outputs, in a range of power options? The problem for audio is that is the best example of potential bewilderment around. The number of permutations of amplifier in broad terms are almost limitless, and with each successive month, those options multiply."
See what's within this issue of H-Fi+ Magazine at this
link.
Industry News 15 Years Ago
Long Lost Soviet Music Recordings Have Been Found! Classical music lovers are rejoicing as many Soviet recordings that were lost for many decades by the Soviet Ministry of Radio and Television have been found! The lost content includes both audio and video of such greats as cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, Violinist David Oistrakh performing a Prokofiev violin concerto in June 1953, Rostropovich performs a Dmitri Shostakovich cello concerto in November 1967, Shostakovich performing his own piano concertos accompanied by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra in 1956 and many others. How much content you ask. According to reports, there are over 400,000 performances - enough to fill 12,000 compact discs! California based Pipeline Music has procured worldwide distribution rights and is planning on releasing over 20 compact discs in the near future! "You're awestruck. It's almost too overwhelming – floor-to-ceiling of tapes, three floors," said Pipeline
president Denny Diante, a producer and former executive at MCA and Columbia records.
07 / 01 / 17
Enjoy the Music.com's
July Review Magazine Is Now Online Enjoy the
Music.com's July Review
Magazine wraps up the final show trilogy of AXPONA,
HIGH END
and LAAS. Up
next is the KL
International AV Show 2017 at the end of July. We've got a great
selection of reviews this month, including world premiere reviews of conrad-johnson's
very special Classic 120SE vacuum tube stereo amplifier, the JE Audio HP10 vacuum tube MM/MC phono stage, and Synergistic Research's
impressive PowerCell 8 UEF SE plus Atmosphere Level 2 & 3 power cords! While all three of those are world premiere
reviews, we actually have one more trick up our proverbial sleeves with a world premiere review of
Pro-Ject's Debut Carbon RecordMaster HiRes turntable, which is feature packed and ready for all your vinyl ripping needs too.
Our love of vacuum tubes continue with careful assessments of the 5 Watt Ampsandsound Agartha stereo
amplifier/headamp and Audio Research's LS28 line stage with
powerful VT80 amplifier.
Lovers of professional and personal audio can read HIFICRITIC's Martin Colloms assessment of the Rupert Neve headphone amplifier
RNHP. Lastly, mixing audiophile with videophile we have
the legendary Leonard Norwitz giving us details on the outstanding new OPPO UDP-205 Hi-Res Music and 4k Ultra HD audiophile Blu-ray disc player.
High-Performance Audio Reviews
Industry News 10 Years Ago
