October 2011
Monthly ArchivesMicromega AS400 Integrated Amplifier Review
October 31st, 2011, In 2-Channel Amps, Preamps, Reviews, by Phil Gold
My dad bought a Leak Stereo 30 amp, back in the sixties. It was one of the first, perhaps the first, stereo transistor integrated amp. Until recently, not much has changed in the world of amplification. Certainly there have been numerous refinements to the sound, and amps have become more powerful and better looking. Along … Continue Reading
Burson Audio HA-160DS DAC / Headphone Amp.
October 31st, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Burson Audio, an audio product company based out of Australia, has just recently announced their latest DAC / headphone amplifier product – the HA-160DS. The new DAC with headphone amplifier combo is 16% smaller in footprint and 35% lighter in weight than their former HA-160D model. In addition, the new HA-160DS is also less expensive.… Continue Reading
Graham Slee Solo SRG II and Solo Ultra-Linear Headphone Amplifiers Review
October 31st, 2011, In Headphones/Earphones (and Heaphone Amplifiers), Home, Reviews, by Phil Gold
There’s a real English gentleman I’d like you all to meet. Assisted by two talented engineers that build the products, he designs solid state headphone amplifiers and phono-preamps in small innocuous looking anodized aluminum boxes, and he’s gathered a following all over the world without much fuss or a big advertising budget. I’ve been a … Continue Reading
Yamaha YHT-S401 Soundbar System
October 28th, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Yamaha, a pioneer in the soundbar category, has just introduced a new soundbar based product; their new YHT-S401 system that provides virtual 7.1 surround sound from two compact, easy-to-place components. The YHT-S401 consists of an ultra-slim soundbar featuring three 50 watt full range speakers (centre, left and right). This sound bar is matched with a … Continue Reading
Woo Audio WA-234 MONO
October 27th, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Woo Audio, a company well know to headphone buffs, has just introduced their new flagship tube amplifier, the WA-234 MONO. The new mono-block tube amplifier allows the use of 2A3, 300B, or 45 power tubes, with the simple switch of a key. Typical tube amplifiers only have a single type of power tube, which can … Continue Reading
Marantz TT42 and TT42P Turntables
Marantz has just announced the introduction of its new TT42 turntable ($399). The DC Servo belt-driven TT42 is designed as an entry-level turntable ideally suited for the growing numbers of music lovers who are discovering – or rediscovering – the benefits of an analog vinyl listening experience. Notably, for music lovers with amplifiers or receivers … Continue Reading
MartinLogan Motion LX16 Bookshelf Speakers
MarinLogan has just announced that it is shipping the new Motion LX16 bookshelf speakers. The compact speaker incorporates traditional quality wood craftsmanship and minimalistic elegance complemented by extended performance improvements. The Motion LX16 bookshelf speaker features MartinLogan’s advanced resolution Folded Motion tweeter, a low-distortion 5.25-inch high-excursion woofer, and low-turbulence rear-firing bass port for extended bass … Continue Reading
Pioneer STEEZ Portable Music Systems
STEEZ is Pioneer’s new brand of portable entertainment products designed for the youthful, passionate and culturally diverse dance community. A first in the industry, STEEZ addresses all dance levels and styles offering products with exclusive features that help dancers practice and perfect their techniques. From the battle-hardened dance crew to a beginning student, STEEZ gives … Continue Reading
Red Wine Audio Signature 15 & Corvina
October 26th, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Red Wine Audio, manufacturer of battery-powered purist hi-fi products, has just recently released two new “budget-friendly” components. The new products are designed and built by hand in the USA and incorporate Red Wine Audio features, including: Premium LiFePO4 (LFP) battery technology, Red Wine’s battery-powered vacuum tube-stage and the company’s automated SMART battery-management system. Red Wine … Continue Reading
Paradigm Monitor Series 7 Subwoofers
October 26th, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Paradigm has just announced the addition of three new subwoofers to its recently announced Monitor Series 7 line. The new subwoofers feature the same new streamlined aesthetics and smaller footprint of the latest edition of the Monitor series loudspeakers. The three new Monitor Series 7 subwoofers are: the Monitor SUB 8, Monitor SUB 10 and … Continue Reading
Meridian DSW DSP Subwoofer
October 25th, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Meridian has just introduced their first DSP-powered subwoofer – the DSW. The uniquely styled DSW DSP subwoofer is designed to work with a wide selection of Meridian DSP loudspeaker models, both in stereo and surround systems. The new DSW subwoofer, utilizing the DSP technology, is set to offer highly-tailored filters along with precision cone excursion … Continue Reading
ViewSonic ViewPad 7e, a $200 Tablet
ViewSonic has just expanded its ViewPad tablet lineup with the new, attractively priced ViewPad 7e. Created with the economical consumer in mind, while offering the newest and most in-demand features, the ViewPad 7e is a 7” Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablet which offers a powerful 1GHz processor that is excellent for flash video and web browsing. … Continue Reading
Panasonic TC-P50ST30 3D Plasma TV
October 24th, 2011, In Reviews, Television Sets, by Mike Osadciw
Panasonic is no newcomer to plasma television. Having developed panels for as long as I can remember, consistency seems to be the company’s mission. Solid. Elegant. Functional. These three words best describe how I’ve felt about Panasonic TVs from the moment I first laid my eyes, and my calibration meter, on one. Year after year, … Continue Reading
DAC Buyer Guide (Includes various DAC recommendations)
October 24th, 2011, In Audio Components, Buyer Guides, by Giovanni Militano
It was only a few short years ago that I recall a local group of audio enthusiasts who got together for cold beverage sampling and auditioning of hi-fi audio gear. As a new audio system was being swapped in for auditioning, the conversation turned to the components being installed – a new SACD player and … Continue Reading
Yamaha MCR-332 and MCR-232 Micro Component Systems
Yamaha has just unveiled its MCR-332 and MCR-232 PianoCraft micro component systems that promise to deliver full-size component quality stereo sound from just about any source, including Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad portable music players, USB devices, as well as from their built-in CD players and AM/FM tuners. The centerpiece of both systems is the … Continue Reading
Peachtree Grand Integrated
October 21st, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Peachtree is following up their recently announced, though not yet available, Grand Pre preamplifier, with their all-new Grand Integrated Class D integrated amplifier. The new Grand Integrated is a relatively compact component with a plethora of functionality: a Sabre 24/192 USB DAC, dual 12AX7 preamp buffer, headphone amp and a ICEPower based class D, 400wpc … Continue Reading
Pioneer HTZ-BD91HW 2.1 Blu-ray Home Theatre System
Pioneer has just announced an entirely new type of speaker design called the Sound Wing. This new speaker design claims to turn the entire room a sweet spot. It comes as part of the new HTZ-BD91HW Blu-ray home theatre system available this October for $999. Welcome to the high-performance, versatility and streamlined styling of the … Continue Reading
Trends PA-10.1D Tube Headphone/Pre Amp
October 20th, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Trends Audio has just announced the launch of its latest hi-fi product – the Trends PA-10.1D Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier. The PA-10.1 provides all functions of a headphone amplifier and pre amplifier plus the flexibility and fun of being able to tailor the sound through tube rolling. The new Trends PA-10.1D includes a switchable input (CD/DAC … Continue Reading
Bose OE2 and OE2i Headphones
October 19th, 2011, In Home, by George de Sa
Bose has just introduced its next-generation on-ear headphones: the OE2 and OE2i. Bose claims that these new models provide superior performance than their predecessors, while, also featuring new updated design and aesthetics for a closer, more comfortable fit. The OE2i headphones come with an inline remote and microphone that lets owners interact with select Apple … Continue Reading
Totem Acoustic Element Fire Compact Speakers Review
October 19th, 2011, In Reviews, Speakers and Subwoofers, by admin
It’s not everyday that Quebec’s Totem Acoustic introduces a new range of speakers. Totem models tend to stick around, to be incrementally improved as developing technology allows. Yet this year Totem is making a big splash with their new Element Series of radically designed speakers. Three models are available now, with two additional models to … Continue Reading