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Netflix and Sony to Team Up for Instant Movie Downloads Through PS3
Beginning sometime in November, Netflix customers will be able to download movies and television shows to their Sony PlayStation 3s using the PS3’s Internet connection. For $8.99 a month, Netflix customers can have unlimited movies and shows streamed to their PS3s. For the moment, access will require an instant-streaming Blu-ray Disc that Netflix is making available to all customers. The Blu-ray activates the BD-Live circuitry in the player whereupon the user can access lists of available titles. Customers can still use the Netflix queuing system to organize their requests. One can go to the link below for more information as soon as it becomes available. Eagle Rock to Release Steve Morse Album in Domestic Edition
On November 17, Out Standing in Their Field, the new studio album by The Steve Morse Band, will be released domestically in the US by Eagle Rock. The critically acclaimed set was released abroad in September and has been available in the US only as an import. The entirely instrumental album is the 12th for the band and features guitarist Morse with bassist David LaRue and drummer Van Romaine. Morse got his start in the 1970s with the Dixie Dregs and he’s spent the last 16 years playing with Deep Purple, while fronting his own band. Press sources call the music on Out Standing in Their Field as "a diverse sound spectrum, twisting together elements of rock, country, jazz, funk and classical." The release is tied into a North American tour that began on October 15 in Annapolis, Maryland, and will end on Halloween in Atlanta. Eagle Rock Entertainment to Release Roxy Music Retrospective DVD on October 20
On October 20, Eagle Rock Entertainment and Eagle Vision Entertainment USA will release on DVD More Than This: The Story of Roxy Music. The story of the popular band is told through interviews with band members Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay, Paul Thompson, Brian Eno, and Eddie Jobson plus many of their contemporaries. The over-90-minute DVD covers the whole history of the band, from its inception to its breakup to its reunion. Three previously unreleased live tracks from Dock Rock (filmed in London in 2006) are included: "Both Ends Burning," "Editions of You," and "Do The Strand," as is a lot of rare, previously unseen footage. The program was first released on BBC television in 2008. Its list price on DVD will be $14.98. Eagle Vision, Eagle Rock USA website iPeng Releases its Version 1.2 App for Squeezebox and iTunes Users October 12, 2009
The app displays handsome screens, including full-color album covers, and since it works through the WI-FI network in your home, you can control the Squeezebox from any location that is within range of the network. The designer claims the following for the new version:
Version 1.2 of iPeng is available at the Apple Apps Store for $9.95. Projecting the possible cost of a remote control that would have as many functions as iPeng, the price seems to constitute a real bargain. Sony to Release Samuel Fuller Collection on DVD
Samuel Fuller is generally regarded as both legend and maverick in the history of American cinema. As a director, by using a combination of handheld camera and deep focus, he created a hard-hitting style that would dramatically enhance the action onscreen. He was also an in-demand screenwriter for other directors’ projects. On October 27, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release The Collector’s Choice: Samuel Fuller Collection, a DVD box set that contains seven films either directed or scripted by Fuller. As director, he is represented by The Crimson Kimono (1959) and Underworld U.S.A. (1961). Five movies that Fuller scripted will be available on DVD for the first time: It Happened in Hollywood (1937), Adventure in Sahara (1938), Power of the Press (1943), Shockproof (1949), and Scandal Sheet (1952). The box set is the result of a cooperative effort between Sony and The Film Foundation, an organization founded by Martin Scorsese to preserve and present important films in the history of cinema. Bonus features include interviews with Scorsese, and fellow directors Curtis Hanson, Tim Robbins, and Wim Wenders. List price for the set is $79.95. Legendary Speaker Designer Jim Thiel Passes Away September 17, 2009
Jim Thiel was one of the few remaining loudspeaker designers who created speakers that are time and phase correct. It's this aspect of speaker design that Thiel Audio was best known for. Thiel's newest speaker, the CS3.7, is a highly innovative speaker with radical new drivers designed by Jim Thiel himself. His rigorous attention to detail and his excellent design work paid off. SoundStage! Network writers have reviewed numerous Thiel Audio speakers over the years and have consistently found them to offer outstanding performance and value. We have also spoken to Jim Thiel on many occasions and found him to be extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of speaker design. Jim Thiel was a highly respected pioneer in the high-end-audio audio industry whose presence and contributions will certainly be missed. Zu Audio Goes Factory Direct and Lowers Prices September 2, 2009
Zu Audio originally started only making cables and, at that time, was known as Zu Cable. Over time, the company expanded into loudspeakers and eventually changed to the current name. Zu Audio is based in Ogden, Utah, USA. PMC Launches DB1S-A II and TB2S-A II Pro Compact Monitors August 19, 2009
According to the company's August 18 press release: "The major area of upgrade to both models is inclusion of PMC’s all new DS-001, a cutting-edge class-D power module. This unit ups the power from the previous module’s output of 100W to 200W into 8 ohms and radically reduces distortion, producing a significantly cleaner, faster more neutral presentation across the full bandwidth. This innovative ultra-low-noise design is not load dependant and along with the highly accurate ATL™ (Advanced Transmission Line) bass-loading system, produces a supremely flat frequency response. A single feedback loop circuit senses the loudspeaker load and adjusts the response accordingly, making output impedance of this amplifier design extremely low and bettering many larger, audiophile ‘class A’ analogue designs. Both power supply and amplifier are highly efficient with the amplifier delivering 92% efficiency. It also benefits from with extremely low radiated and conducted EMI, which is perfect for low-noise environments. The slim-line unit takes the identical form to the previous power module allowing for factory upgrades to existing TB2S-A and DB1S-A models." No pricing details were given. Thiel Audio Introduces the DewPoint™, a High-End Outdoor Loudspeaker July 28, 2009
The DewPoint™ features a coaxial driver in a wedge-shaped enclosure that is said to afford a "90-degree radiation pattern enables the sound to cover virtually any area far more completely than normal, more directional surface-mount or in-wall/in-ceiling speakers." The frequency response of the DewPoint™ is said to be 75Hz to 20kHz, +/-3dB, the impedance 4 ohms (minimum of 3 ohms), and the sensitivity 89dB (2.83V/1m). The price for the DewPoint™ is to be announced at a later date and availability will be in the fall. PSB's Redesigned Image Series July 15, 2009
All Image models feature cabinets made from MDF and have curved panels that are inspired by the more expensive Imagine series. According to Paul Barton, PSB's founder and chief designer, "The frequency response of the listening window over their operating range is within 1dB for every model in the new Image line.“ PSB's new Image series will be available in September 2009. HDTracks.com Adds Harmonia Mundi July 9, 2009
According to the company's July 7 press release: "Harmonia Mundi recordings on HDtracks include, among many others, Beethoven’s String Quartets, opp. 74 and 95, performed by the world-renowned Tokyo String Quartet, as well as his Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica,' played by the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Andrew Manze. HDtracks will also feature the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Tyzik and featuring pianist Jon Nakamatsu, in an album of American legend George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, Rhapsody in Blue, and Cuban Overture. Ultramodern British composer Tarik O’Regan’s Threshold of Night: Music for Voices & Strings adds to the stellar Harmonia Mundi lineup." Harmonia Mundi was originally founded in 1958 by Bernard Coutaz in Arles, France, and is currently based in Germany. HDTracks.com was founded by David and Norman Chesky of Chesky Records. Naim Audio Ships the NaimUniti All-In-One Player June 26, 2009
"It combines a ten-input, 50Wpc integrated amplifier based on the award-winning NAIT 5i, a CD player based on the similarly acclaimed CD5i, and a digital-to-analog converter with an output filter derived from that developed for the stunning CD5x. To all that, NaimUniti adds a high-quality DAB/FM tuner, the ability to play streamed audio files wirelessly from UPnP servers or Internet radio stations, and separate interface inputs for USB memory sticks carrying audio files, iPods and MP3 players." With all that going for it, the NaimUniti should find its way into office systems or into environments where functionality is key, but small size and convenience are paramount. Just add speakers and speaker cable you’re up and running. The NaimUniti retails for $3750 USD. Paradigm's New Hybrid Millenia 10 and 20 Mount In and On the Wall June 16, 2009
"Conventional on-wall speakers jut out four to five inches, dwarfing the depth of most wall-mounted flat-panel displays. Although great sound is paramount, floor space and visual appeal (or discretion) are important secondary factors in the purchase of speakers. Paradigm’s new models are slim enough to visually complement ever-slimming flat panels for years to come, even with the grilles on. By partially recessing a Millenia Hybrid into the wall, the speaker gains a deeper, more stable enclosure with inherent performance advantages over traditional on-wall mounting techniques. "Each Paradigm hybrid speaker is engineered to incorporate the predictable effects of a wall on the speaker’s frequency response. The speaker’s pre-attached glass-reinforced injection-molded polymer (GRIP™) bracket is optimized to exploit maximum wall area for a complete absence of vibration, even when performing at maximum output." The Hybrid Millenia 10 is a three-driver, two-way design priced at $379 each. The Hybrid Millenia 20 is a five-driver, 2 ˝-way design that's $529. Both speakers can be mounted on the wall vertically or horizontally. Aperion Audio's New 6-LCR In-Wall Speaker June 11, 2009
The 6-LCR comes with a 10-year warranty, Aperion's "30-Day No-Risk In-Home Audition™" and free shipping. The 6-LCR is priced at $225 USD and is available now. MartinLogan's Encore TF June 8, 2009
2000 Watts of PurePower May 18, 2009
PurePower also makes lower-power, lower-cost units, including the Model 1050, which outputs 1500 watts ($2495), and the entry-level Model 700, which produces 1000 watts ($1795). Potis Family Relief Fund Established May 7, 2009
Potis Family Relief Fund Contributions can also be sent through PayPal to ID john.potis@comcast.net. Donations in kind can be made by contacting: Eric Luebehusen Donations in kind will be auctioned on Audiogon and the entire proceeds will go to the Potis Family Relief Fund. Two New Preamps from Lamm May 4, 2009
On the other end of the price spectrum is the LL2.1, the upgraded version of a previously released preamp. Its power supply features full-wave tube rectification. There are two versions of the LL2.1: Regular ($5690) and Deluxe ($5990), which differ in their power-supply energy storage (the Deluxe has approximately twice that of the standard version) and the use of film capacitors in critical paths (in the Deluxe version; they are paralleled by polystyrene types). Sasha W/P Debuts May 15 April 23, 2009
Wilson Audio has posted a short movie about the Sasha W/P. DAC, Headphone Amp and Preamp from Benchmark Media April 17, 2009
A Musical Titan April 10, 2009
Mark Your Calendar: Record Store Day is April 18 April 2, 2009
Among the bands directly promoting the event is Wilco, which plans to release its upcoming DVD exclusively to indie music stores and on the band’s website on April 18. The group’s Jeff Tweedy told Billboard Magazine in a recent interview, "Even if I wasn't in a band, I'd still support Record Store Day. It's a great thing and I'm glad we could do something special with them for our DVD." "Digital Phono Preamp" from NAD March 25, 2009
Hanss Acoustics Does Analog -- and More March 19, 2009
All Hanss Acoustics products are distributed in the US by The Lotus Group, which also handles products from Oyaide, Acoustic Revive, Acrolink and other makers. The SoundStage! Network Unveils "TWBAS 2009" March 11, 2009
"TWBAS is already being written about on Ultra Audio. Currently, you will find articles leading up to the event. Following this weekend's event, there will be more articles on Ultra Audio as well as SoundStage!, in addition to videos that will be featured on SoundStage! V. "The World's Best Audio System" started solely as a feature that has become an event featuring six of the world's top high-end-audio brands. In 2010, the SoundStage! Network plans to hold TWBAS 2010 at a luxury mansion and feature more than 20 companies. Ayre Introduces Custom Digital Filter, Updates for Existing Digital Players March 4, 2009
The Minimum Phase digital filter is incorporated into the new C-5xeMP universal player and CX-7eMP CD player and will also be used in Ayre's soon-to-be-released QB-9 USB DAC. In keeping with Ayre's commitment to updating its existing products, current owners of Ayre digital players can have their units upgraded. The C-5xe costs $200, while the CX-7 costs from $250 to $900 depending on the unit's age. NHT "Going Quiet" February 25, 2009
Best known for its large Model 3.3 loudspeaker as well as the Xd system with DSP-based crossovers, NHT has a rich history of producing innovative speakers whose technical proficiency has always been apparent. "Remember," Byrne offers, "this isn't goodbye; it's just 'see you on the other side.'"
February 16, 2009 The AT-PEQ3 ($119) is the matching phono stage for Audio-Technica's budget-priced moving-magnet cartridges. It provides 36dB of gain, and its impedance is a standard 47k ohms. Measuring just 2 3/4"W x 1 1/8"H x 3 1/2"D and weighing a mere 5 1/2 ounces, it is easy to place near a turntable or preamp. It utilizes high-quality integrated circuits, internal parts and connectors, providing low-noise operation. It derives its power from an included 18V DC adapter, and it also comes with a one-meter pair of interconnects.
A New Summit
MartinLogan's new Summit X speaker ($13,995 per pair) is a hybrid design that mates an electrostatic panel at approximately 160Hz to a dynamic-driver bass section for the lowest frequencies. It is the first MartinLogan speaker to benefit from the research done for the CLX, a full-range electrostatic loudspeaker that was released last year. The bass section uses Controlled Dispersion PoweredForce woofers that are said to shift smoothly the woofer phasing as it reaches the crossover point, better integrating the woofer with the electrostatic panel. According to the company, "This innovation brings with it all the requisite advantages of a controlled-dispersion radiation pattern and uniform wave launch while still retaining the efficiency and dynamics that cone woofers provide at the lowest frequencies."
HeadRoom Drops Prices January 28, 2009
Internet Radio Coming to Automobiles January 27, 2009
miRoamer
website "All-Out" Digital Separates from Esoteric January 20, 2009
Owners of the P-01 and D-01 can upgrade through the Esoteric factory in Japan. Upgrading the P-01 to the VU version costs $3000, while each D-01 mono DAC costs $1500. These prices do not include shipping to and from Japan. The Best Gets Even Better January 6, 2009
To see our coverage, visit the Las Vegas 2009 show site every day of the CES -- January 9-12. Best of 2008
The SoundStage! Network has announced its award winners for 2008, and as usual staff will be making presentations in conjunction with the CES in Las Vegas. The winners are: Edge of the Art - Wilson Audio Specialties Alexandria X-2
Series 2 Loudspeakers Products of the Year - Reference 3A Grand Veena Loudspeakers, Weiss Minerva Digital-to-Analog Converter Product of the Year: Speakers - Hsu Research HB-1 Mk.2 /
HC-1 Mk.2 / VTF-3 Mk.3 Home-Theater Speaker System Products of the Year - Audioengine A2 Powered Loudspeakers, Blue Circle Audio USB Thingee Digital Converter |
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October 26, 2009
October 21, 2009
October 19, 2009
iPeng has released
a new version of its popular software app that can turn your iPhone or iTouch into a
full-featured remote control for Squeezebox products. With iPeng, the user has full
control over his or her music library. One can use it to control one Squeezebox or many
devices in a network. 
October 9, 2009
It's with great
sadness that we report that legendary speaker designer Jim Thiel has passed away. Along
with Kathy Gornik, Jim Thiel founded Thiel Audio, a privately held company located in
Lexington, Kentucky.
Zu Audio is responding to
customers' demands for lower pricing and is changing their business model back to being
factory direct. According to the company's press release of August 31: "Effective
September 1st, Zu Audio once again sells our acclaimed loudspeakers, cables and
accessories directly to our U.S. customers, via ZuAudio.com or telephone. After nine
months serving our market through authorized dealers in the U.S., you’ve collectively
spoken loud and clear: Zu customers want to buy from Zu. We also believe the radically
changed economy of the past 12 months has reset music lovers’ perception of value. So
we’re using the more efficient economics of direct sales to give you more for less:
Our new critically acclaimed Essence loudspeaker, formerly starting at $5,000 per
pair now starts at $3,495 per pair -- its new everyday price!"
PMC of the UK has
announced the release of the DB1S-A II and TB2S-A II compact loudspeakers
which have been designed for small- to medium-sized control rooms. The DB1S-A II,
which is the smaller of the two, features a 5.5" bass unit while TB2S-A II uses
a 6.5" driver. 
Thiel Audio of Lexington, KY,
has introduced the new DewPoint™, an outdoor loudspeakers that is based on
the company's popular 
Trickle-down technology from
PSB's highly praised Synchrony and Imagine speaker lines has made its way into the newly
redesigned Image series that includes the T5 and T6 floorstanders ($899 USD and $1199 per
pair), B5 and B6 monitors ($399 and $499 per pair), C4 and C5 center-channels ($275 and
$375), and S5 surround ($799 per pair). A new addition to this line is the B4 Sub-Compact
Monitor/Surround that uses a 4" woofer and a 1" titanium tweeter. The B4, which
is intended for home-theater and multichannel use, is priced at $299 per pair and fits
into a cabinet space that's 5.25"W x 9.2"H x 6.5"D. 
HDTracks.com has
recently added Harmonia Mundi recordings to their growing list of download offerings, and
are making these recordings available at 24-bit/88kHz resolution. HDTracks.com touts this
as "DVD-Audio quality," far exceeding the 16-bit/44.1kHz resolution of standard
CD.
British
high-end-audio manufacturer Naim Audio introduced the Uniti all-in-one audio player at
Munich’s High End 2009. We just got word that the NaimUniti is now shipping to North
American dealers. Its impressive list of features makes it perhaps the most complete
single-chassis audio component in all of high-end audio. The company's description of the
NaimUniti leaves little to be desired:
Paradigm has
introduced the Hybrid Millenia 10 and 20 speakers that mount in and on the wall in order
to complement the depth of new flat-panel displays. According to the company's press
release:
Aperion Audio is
best known for their high-value floorstanding and stand-mounted speakers that they sell
factory direct. They've recently added to their lineup the 6-LCR in-wall speaker that
features a 1" silk-dome tweeter that can be aimed toward the listening position.
Flanking the tweeter are two 6.5” long-throw, woven-fiberglass, dual-voice-coil
woofers. The 6-LCR can be mounted in the wall vertically or horizontally and has switches
for bass and treble control.
Well-known
electrostatic-speaker manufactuer MartinLogan of Kansas, USA, has announced the release of
the Encore TF center-channel speaker. The Encore TF has been designed to work with other
MartinLogan speakers and is intended for on- or off-wall installation. According to the
company's press release, the Encore has been "designed to serve as a high-performance
center-channel for home theaters, the compact Encore TF delivers exceptional detail. An
ATF™ (Advanced Thin Film) driver, long-excursion low-mass woofers, and sophisticated
crossover engineering produce sound with lifelike clarity and openness. Encore TF delivers
compelling center-channel reproduction whether discretely mounted beneath a high
definition flat screen or used with the included tabletop stand. Additionally, the Encore
TF is highly adaptable, working equally well mounted horizontally or vertically in
front-channel and surround applications." The Encore TF is shipping right now and is
priced at $499 USD.
PurePower's new
Model 2000 ($2995) is billed as the most robust power regenerator on the market, providing
up to two kilowatts of "perfect, isolated, battery-reference power." The Model
2000 converts AC from the wall socket to DC, removing all the noise and distortion before
creating brand-new AC. The Model 2000's internal battery system provides complete
isolation from the local power grid, eliminating the deleterious effects of voltage sags,
surges, and transients. The Model 2000 has ten receptacles. Export models use one of a
dozen different kinds of country-specific receptacles.
When former SoundStage!,
Six Moons and Positive Feedback reviewer John Potis (fourth from the
left in picture) died late last year at 49, he left behind his daughters and wife during
especially trying economic times. A Family Relief Fund has been established to help
alleviate financial burden for John's family. Cash contributions can be made by sending a
check or a money order to:
Lamm Industries' all-new
LL1 Signature (shown right, $42,690) is the company's top-of-the-line preamp. It comprises
four separate chassis: a control unit and power supply per channel. It features
single-ended class-A operation with no overall feedback and uses specially selected
high-transconductance dual triode 6N30P-DR tubes in its signal path along with TKD stepped
potentiometers for volume control. The LL1 Signature was created to be the natural mate to
Lamm's ML3 Signature mono amplifiers.
Wilson Audio's newest speaker
is the Sasha W/P ($26,950 per pair), which builds on the two-cabinet platform of the
venerable WATT/Puppy and ultimately replaces that speaker in the company's product lineup.
The Sasha W/P's drivers and crossover are inspired by those of the MAXX 3, and the new
speaker is an integrated system, with crossovers housed in the bass module, whereas the
WATT monitor had always been a fully functional speaker with its own internal crossover.
Another significant difference is the price between the Sasha W/P and the speaker it
replaces, the WATT/Puppy 8, which costs $29,900 per pair. According to Wilson Audio, the
lower price of the new speaker is due to "increased efficiencies resulting from our
factory expansion."
Benchmark
Media's DAC1 HDR ($1895) is the company's new flagship digital/analog preamp,
incorporating the features of the AdvancedUSB computer audio interface, DAC1
digital-to-analog converter, and HPA2 headphone amplifier, along with full preamplifier
functionality featuring a custom-built, motor-driven ALPS volume control. The remote
controls on/off, input selection, volume, soft-mute, and adjustable dim level. The user
can adjust the "dim" and "normal" volume settings independently, and
the DAC1 HDR will remember them. The D-to-A section of the DAC1 HDR is similar to
Benchmark's DAC1 PRE in form, function, and performance. You can connect to a digital
cable box, HDTV, DVD/CD player, computer, music server, satellite radio, FM tuner, phono
stage, or VCR. The DAC1 HDR is available in black or silver.
The
Musical Fidelity Titan ($30,000) is a dual-mono, fully balanced stereo power amplifier
that reportedly delivers a whopping 1000Wpc into 8 ohm, 2000Wpc into 4 ohms, and 4000Wpc
into 2 ohms. It follows Musical Fidelity’s convention of having an external power
supply to ensure that no transformer interacts with the amplifier's signal circuitry.
Thus, the Titan comprises two identically sized boxes, with the audio-signal unit having
balanced and single-ended inputs along with two sets of speaker terminals with 30 microns
gold plating. Billed as "one of the quietest amps in existence," the Titan is
said to offer "huge dynamic range and low-level detail [that is] rendered with
astonishing clarity and accuracy."
Saturday April 18, 2009 marks
the second-annual Record Store Day, when independently owned music stores around the world
will celebrate "the culture and unique place that they occupy both in their local
communities and nationally." Participating stores will feature special events,
including live performances, and provide customers with a "goodie bag" of music
and printed material promoting new releases. Sonic Youth, Beck, Bob Dylan, Bruce
Springsteen, and Tom Waits will all release new music specifically to commemorate Record
Store Day. A long list of participating stores is available on the Record Store Day
website.
NAD's PP-3 ($199) is called a
"digital phono preamplifier" because it combines a MM/MC phono stage with an
analog-to-digital converter, a USB interface, and easy-to-use software. It allows LPs and
other audio sources to be copied directly to a PC or Mac, an iPod, or another MP3 player.
The phono stage provides 35dB of gain for moving-magnet cartridges and 60dB for
moving-coil. The included CD-R VinylStudio Lite software lets users copy LPs directly to a
PC in WAV or MP3 file formats. An additional line-level input allows other analog sources
such as an FM tuner or CD player to be converted to digital, and it adds back the input
used by the PP-3.
Hanss Acoustics turntables
are manufactured from of layers of machined anodized aluminum and acrylic, and they can
accommodate multiple tonearms. Their thick platters are magnetically supported on
high-precision bearings, and the company's speed controllers can be used with multiple
motors for greater torque and speed stability. The T-60 (shown right, $6200 without
tonearm) features magnetic-suspension feet and a built-in digital level meter.
Surprisingly, the lower-priced T-30 ($4600) and T-20 ($3080) offer the same advanced
features. Hanss also makes phono preamps that range in price from $380 to $5000, a CD
player ($2200) and a record cleaner ($920).
"The World's
Best Audio System" has been a longstanding feature on 
Ayre Acoustics' new Minimum
Phase digital filter was designed to provide minimum phase shift and slow frequency
roll-off in order to eliminate pre-echo as well as pre- and post-ringing in the digital
signal. According to Ayre president Charles Hansen, "The technological improvements
[of the MP filter] translate into a more vivid and spatial soundstage, a richer and more
complex tonal presentation and the sense of ease of a live acoustic event."
March 31, 2009 will be the
last day of regular business, "at least for now," for speaker maker NHT.
According to a press release from company president Chris Byrne, the company will be
"rethinking" its future amidst a selloff, over the next 60 days, of its
remaining professional and consumer inventory. "However, you should know that we are
not bankrupt," the press release points out. "Everybody here is fine and no, the
car didn't get hit by a train. In a way this difficult economy provided the right
opportunity for the change in strategy we felt has been necessary for some time."
Small,
Inexpensive Phono Stage from Audio-Technica
February 4, 2009
Perhaps in the
spirit of traditional post-holiday sales, TEAC's Esoteric division reduced the list price
of its speakers in the US by 50% as 2009 began. Now HeadRoom Corporation has reduced the
prices of its Micro Amp and Micro DAC from $399 to $333, and the prices of its Ultra Micro
Amp and Ultra Micro DAC from $699 to $599 -- about a 15% reduction in all cases.
HeadRoom's rationale? "In these especially tough times, we've decided it's the
perfect opportunity to take some strain off your pocketbook by offering all our popular
Micro Line products at even lower prices -- without cutting any corners." Will other
companies follow suit under these tough economic conditions? Time will tell.
Auto-sound
specialist Blaupunkt and Internet radio innovator miRoamer will introduce the world’s
first Internet car radio in the second half of 2009, giving drivers access to a large and
diverse selection of online radio content in their automobiles. The first two models will
be the Blaupunkt Hamburg 600i and New Jersey 600i (shown right), which will sell for
$300-$400 each. With these units, users will be able to choose and arrange information on
a large display. Via miRoamer.com, users will have the added ability to browse genres or
stations and customize preferences, providers and search options. The website also allows
users to add media that is not currently offered by simply providing the URL and adding it
to their favorites.
Esoteric's
digital products are well known among audiophiles for their robust build quality and
refined, detailed sound. The company has introduced upgraded versions of its very best
products, the P-01 VU transport ($32,000) and D-01 VU mono digital-to-analog converter
($16,000 each), Esoteric's all-out attack on state-of-the-art CD and SACD playback.
Enhancements include higher-grade wiring in the P-01 VU along with parts upgrades to the
unit's power supply and optimization of the digital circuit. The D-01 VU boasts of
higher-grade parts throughout as well as fine-tuning of the audio circuit.
For more than a decade, we at
the SoundStage! Network have been covering the CES in the most demanding way possible --
on the spot -- in order to bring readers around the globe the most important
consumer-electronics information as quickly as possible. Starting on January 8, we will
commence our coverage of CES 2009 and produce our largest and most comprehensive show
report ever. Look for more -- and larger -- pictures, more information on new products,
and more insightful commentary on what we see and hear in Las Vegas.
January 1, 2009