High-End Audio Industry News

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05 / 17 / 13

  HDtracks now offers Rush's entire Mercury catalog in high resolution audio! HDtracks is proud to celebrate the legacy of Canadian rock trio Rush with three separate five-album sets which together spans their entire historic Mercury Records recording career. Topped only by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Rush remains at the #3 spot for the most consecutive Gold/Platinum studio albums by a rock band certified by the RIAA. In 2013, Rush was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Each Sector contains five of their fifteen Mercury albums in chronological order. In addition, each Sector includes a booklet with unpublished photos and original album lyrics. Check it out and got Rush in high resolution 24-bit/96kHz right now on HDtracks at this link.

TGIFMUSIC
To seek the sacred river Alph; to walk the caves of ice. Enjoy the music below and come join the discussion on drumming via Enjoy the Music.com's Facebook page.

For I have dined on honeydew And drunk the milk of Paradise.

05 / 16 / 13

  The all-new Gato Audio DIA-250 and DIA-400 (from €3250 on up) Class-D integrated amplifiers are designed and built to a vision of combining "technology, power, sonic performance, connectivity, versatility, and stunning looks all within a compact design". Both amplifiers feature built-in D/A converters with electrical, optical and USB inputs. High quality analogue input is via unbalanced RCA connectors or balanced XLR connectors. For output, both balanced and unbalanced analog outputs are provided. The DIA-250 produces 250 watts per channel into 8 Ohm load while the DIA-400 is rated at 400 watts, with output doubling into 4 Ohm loads. The Gato Audio DIA-400 has a dedicated power supply, a balanced-drive Burr-Brown PCM1794 D/A converter, an optimized high bandwidth I/V converter, and an analogue stage with low-Q, low pass filters. All digital inputs are upsampled to 24-bit/192kHz. Digital inputs include S/PDIF coax, TosLink optical and asynchronous USB. The DIA-250 and DIA-400 are available June 2013 and Gato Audio offers three different design variants: High gloss black, white and walnut.

Thorens launches two models alongside their award-winning TD 309 turntable; the TD 206 and TD 209 (€998) entry-level units. Both models are set at a considerably lower price point than their senior sibling and aimed at newcomers seeking highest build and sound quality. Aiding the many vinyl newcomers, both turntables are quick and easy to setup and the company says "a spinning record is a matter of minutes". Both models come with a preinstalled Thorens TP 90 tonearm complete with a high-quality MM cartridge, interconnects and even a spirit level and a stylus balance. The TD 206 and TD 209 share a number of features with the TD 309 including the drive unit and the bearing damping. The TD 209 also takes styling cues from the uniquely shaped TD 309 whereas the TD 206 follows classic rectangular designs and includes a dust cover. Both models employ a two-part aluminum/acrylic platter and the TP90 tonearm has Japanese precision bearings and adjustable VTA, azimuth and overhang. Available from June in red, white or black, the servo-controlled, silent-running DC motor with adjustable belt tension ensures optimal drive force and speed stability.

05 / 15 / 13

  The Lone Star Audio Fest (LSAF) 2013 was held May 3rd through 5th and to quote the show promoters feel that "It felt like a plateau had been reached. LSAF was once a small gathering of passionate enthusiasts (and still is). But it has now reached a size that attracts a larger audience. Most of the audio press was there, and a large number of exhibitors were there to wow them with their wares. As always, the DIYers and kits companies were in full force, as were many high-end boutique manufacturers and dealers." Manufacturers simply booked a guest room directly with the hotel. Show up, then they set up their exhibit within the room. Yes, it really was easy! Attendees simply showed up and enjoyed the LSAF 2013 for free. No hassles and no registration or ticket required. For this year's coverage we decided to do things different at Enjoy the Music.com. We felt it was time to hear from manufacturers / exhibitors themselves! Thus they can give show impressions, room results, goals, etc. See Enjoy the Music.com's

05 / 14 / 13

  Enjoy the Music.com just posted the May edition of Hi-Fi+ (Issue 99)! This issue includes equipment reviews of the Krell Phantom II/Evolution 402e line preamp and power amp, conrad-johnson LP125SA value power amplifier, Elac FS407 floorstanding loudspeakers, Electrocompaniet EC1-6DS network audio streamer/amplifier, Guru Junior standmount loudspeakers, Roksan Xerxes 20Plus complete turntable system and much more! Within Alan Sircom's editorial he says, "In the meantime, we are still very keen to read your views on the audio world since our issue one, and we'll print the best of them in our 100th issue next month. What's changed, and what's stayed the same in your audio world since the last century? Have you embraced a downloaded future, or have you set your watch back with vinyl and valves? And where do you think audio will be in 15 years time?" You can see the complete table of contents and editorial of Hi-Fi+ by clicking here.

The Home Entertainment Show Newport Beach (T.H.E Show) 2013 marks their third year of this southern California event. Taking place from May 31st through June 2nd at the Hilton Hotel and Atrium Hotel Orange County Airport on MacArthur Blvd., T.H.E. Show Newport Beach 2013 show coverage by Enjoy the Music.com will begin the first day of the event! This high-end audio event will feature hundreds of manufacturers from around the world. T.H.E. Show Newport Beach showcases ultra-rare tube amplifiers, large floorstanding speakers, pure digital high-end, small wireless speakers, headphones, CDs vinyl records and so much more! The Home Entertainment Show in Newport Beach will have nonstop entertainment for all! Concerts included with the entry fee will be held Friday & Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m. Mike Garson, jazz legend and pianist for David Bowie, among many others, will perform joined by Tierney Sutton (Friday) and six-time Grammy nominee, Nnenna Freelon (Saturday). The Atrium Hotel courtyard will offer continuous live entertainment during the day — poolside will be the place to be. In the evening there will be DJ entertainment at the Poolside Bar. Show attendees benefited from a variety of educational seminars on timely audio/video topics moderated by manufacturers and editors. Additional attractions included wine tasting, a cigar bar, gourmet food trucks plus a high-end car show. Enjoy the Music.com's daily live coverage will begin the first day of this event. You can see our T.H.E. Show 2012 report by clikcing here.

05 / 13 / 13

  Would like to thank everyone in Munich for being so very kind and generous. Your unwavering enthusiasm and support for Enjoy the Music.com is very, very much appreciated. It was great to meet so many fans of Enjoy the Music.com too! It was a truly impressive show and will post more High End 2013 Munich show coverage tomorrow as have slept only 22 hours in the past 5 days so would appreciate a 'day off' today. And with that said, enjoy the music.

05 / 09   to  05 / 12

  Enjoy the Music.com's lucky thirteenth year covering Germany's Munich High End Show by the High End Society begins Thursday! The High End Show is the international key exhibition in Europe for the high-quality consumer electronics industry. The High End will take place for the 32nd time in succession; and for the 10th time at the M.O.C. Munich. This makes the High End the oldest specialist exhibition in its field in Europe, now seen throughout the world as the central and most established hub of the industry. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, suppliers and retailers from all over the world meet in Munich every year. This year, more than 350 exhibitors with about 900 brands from all over the world will presented their products and services. A wide variety of lectures will be held to educate and answer attendee's questions. This event will be held at Munich's M.O.C. and will be open from May 9th through 12th, 2013. Enjoy the Music.com's daily live coverage of High End 2013 Munich will begin the first day of this event.

05 / 08 / 13

  According to Science Daily, scientists at Princeton University have taken advantage of modern 3D printing technology tools and have engineered a functional ear that can "hear" frequencies far beyond that of the normal human being. The 3D printing of cells and nanoparticles were joined with cell culture to a small coil antenna with cartilage, thus creating what scientists have decided to call a 'bionic ear'. "In general, there are mechanical and thermal challenges with interfacing electronic materials with biological materials," said Michael McAlpine, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton and the lead researcher. "Previously, researchers have suggested some strategies to tailor the electronics so that this merger is less awkward. That typically happens between a 2D sheet of electronics and a surface of the tissue. However, our work suggests a new approach -- to build and grow the biology up with the electronics synergistically and in a 3D interwoven format." They go on by also saying, "The design and implementation of bionic organs and devices that enhance human capabilities, known as cybernetics, has been an area of increasing scientific interest," the researchers wrote in the article which appears in the scholarly journal Nano Letters. "This field has the potential to generate customized replacement parts for the human body, or even create organs containing capabilities beyond what human biology ordinarily provides."

05 / 07 / 13

  Wilson Audio's new Duette Series-2 stand mounted speaker replaces the original model released in 2006. The tweeter's performance has been enhanced by the inclusion of the rear wave chamber from Wilson's Convergent Synergy Tweeter whilst the rear tweeter baffle is borrowed from the Alexia version of Wilson's CST design. The wave chamber substantially reduces chamber-born diffraction and, in total, this new design is said that by reducing these artifacts it greatly lowers the noise floor. The result for the listener is higher treble resolution. Details are claimed to "naturally emerge from a grainless, black background". Wilson Audio's Duette Series-2 features an all new cabinet, with a primary goal to greatly enhance the time-domain performance of Duette. The front baffle is angled at approximately 10° to align the tweeter and the woofer. Additionally, the main body of the cabinet is now built entirely out of Wilson Audio's proprietary composite, X-material, including the internal bracing. The baffle is built from Wilson Audio's newest composite, S-material. This combination has proven by the company to yield "the best combination of resonance control and beautiful tonality". The Duette is fully optimized for vertical placement only, eschewing the need for the Magnepods imbedded in the enclosure. Receptacles in the bottom of the Series-2 take a specially designed diode foot, and facilitate its attachment to the new dedicated stand. The New Series-2 Dedicated Stand seamlessly integrates the separate Wilson Audio Duette Series-2 Novel crossover, plus it provides captive dressing for the wire umbilical. Greater attention has been paid to the draining of resonances away from the Duette, so Wilson Audio bolted the Duette Series-2 directly to the stand. No pricing has been announced at this time.

Music Industry News 10 Years Ago
Linn's new Unidisk 1.1 universal digital disc player (announced first to the world by Enjoy the Music.com within our Industry News page on December 9^th, 2002) is now in final production version. Said to be the world's first 'true convergence' pitch accurate source component and unites a comprehensive range of disc formats, the Linn Unidisk 1.1 is an integrated universal digital disc player delivering very highest sonic and video standards plus offers universal disc recognition and precise processing for all major optical digital disc formats (CD, SACD, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, etc). The Unidisk 1.1 player automatically recognizes all major Audio and AV optical disc formats, uniquely configuring audio and video playback almost instantly. Video outputs include Progressive Scan, Interlaced, Component and DVI incorporating HDCP encryption. For added versatility all video outputs carry a constant signal, enabling concurrent use of several video playback devices. On the audio side, both single ended 0RCA) and balanced (LXR) analogue outputs access stereo and multi-channel audio playback, with S/PDIF and optical digital audio outputs streaming CD and DVD related data. On-screen graphics plus a user-friendly fascia with simple direct control of the large digital display and a comprehensive luminous remote handset make operating the Linn Unidisk 1.1 simple and intuitive. Additionally, an RS232 control interface and can integrate seamlessly with Linn's Knekt multi-room system. The Unidick 1.1 is available in black and sliver finishes. Pricing is as follows:

UK Retail £6,500 (inc. VAT) 
US Retail $11,000 (ex. Tax) 
Canadian Retail CAN $16,750 (ex. Tax) 
Europe €8,500 (ex. Tax) 
Sweden SEK 98,750 (inc. Tax) 
Norway NOK 78,500 (inc. Tax) 
Denmark DKK 79,500 (inc. Tax)

05 / 03 / 13

  HDtracks now has Bob Marley & The Wailers album Kaya in 96kHz/24-bit and Van Halen's self-titled album in 192kHz/24-bit. Bob Marley & The Wailers Kaya is the band's 1978 masterpiece by this reggae legend. This irresistible classic features all of Marley's exhilarating spirituality. With The Wailers, the album includes the classic cuts "Is This Love," "Sun Is Shining," "Time Will Tell," "Satisfy My Soul" and "Smile Jamaica.". Van Halen's self-titled album from 1978 is considered one of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Van Halen's monumental classic remains one of rock music's greatest debuts and is widely regarded as an album that revolutionized rock n' roll. It has sold over ten million copies worldwide, earning Diamond status by the RIAA. It features the massive hit singles, "Runnin' With The Devil," "Eruption" and "You Really Got Me." Get these and many other great high resolution digital music downloads by clicking here.

Audion Super Sterling 120 ($4175) is the world's first single-ended KT120 amplifier. According to United States importer True Audiophile, "Every designer said it couldn't be done. This tube wasn't designed for it and on and on. After a year we did it and the sound is amazing. The sweetness of the EL34 with twice the punch of the KT88. A perfect marriage. Pure Class A. The price is an introductory price so get your amp at a great price while it lasts." The Audion Super Sterling 120 uses Tungsol KT120 pentode tubes, supported by a pair of 6H23N, and thus produces 24 watts into an 8 Ohm load and has been designed to work with lower efficiency loudspeakers from approx 86dB/W/m on up. Transformers and chokes are design and handmade by Audion including capacitors that have been manufactured to Audion's exacting specifications. Chassis are finished in-house and include powder coating and electroplating to ensure high quality. Frequency response is up to 40 kHz, SNR is better than 85dB/ Warranty is 2 years, with 6 months for tubes and an optional remote control is scheduled to be available soon, plus coming soon are PSE and PP versions.

05 / 02 / 13

  Multi-award earning and longstanding USA company Kimber Kable has announced their new KS2400 Select series USB cables ($433 for 0.5 meter length on up). All Kimber Kable Select series cables are carefully handcrafted at the company's factory in in Ogden Utah. Like other Select series cables, the new KS2400 is available in all copper, hybrid with copper and silver, or all silver wiring. Each cable is made using a specially engineered braided geometry, innovative shielding, and are terminated with beautiful ebony wood ends. Feature of the construction including VariStrand power conductors, solid core signal conductors wrapped in a special braided geometry, and dual layer frequency optimized shielding. Retail pricing for 0.5 meter length is KS-2416-CU (copper) $432.50, KS-2426-HB copper/silver hybrid $582.50 and KS-2436-AG all silver is $800.

Teresonic's new Clarison Digital is a new line of high-end digital cables designed for high-end digital audio systems. They have two S/PDIF (75 Ohm) digital cables, which are the Clarison Digital RCA cable and Clarison Digital BNC cable ($395 for 1.5 meter length for each).. Also new is Teresonic's fully balanced AES (110 Ohm) Clarison Digital XLR cable ($445 for 1.5 meter). Other lengths can be special ordered @ $95 more per 0.5 meter. The fully shielded Clarison Digital cables via S/PDIF and AES connections are specifically designed for use in high-end audio digital systems. Clarison Digital cables feature pure OFC Litz wire, which consists of multiple strands each individually silver plated. A military-grade shielding provides triple signal protection from electric, magnetic, and mechanical interferences. As digital cables are more demanding than analog cables requiring higher bandwidth; thus all Teresonic cables are designed and tested at over 200 MHz to accommodate rapid transitions in digital signal and to minimize jitter and other distortions.

05 / 01 / 13

  Enjoy the Music.com has a huge May high-end audio Review Magazine now online with five World Premiere reviews! We have added more to our Salon Son & Image Montreal report and naturally have live coverage of the Chester Group New York Audio Show 2013. Add to that, we have launched a new section called 'Lifestyle & Design' that features some stunning new items! Music reviews, think pieces and more are now available within our May Review Magazine as seen by clicking here.

 
Regular Reading
Daily News: Audiophile news updated each weekday!

BAS Speaker
Cartridge Brushes And Skating Force
Stanton Magnetics replies to a reader BAS Speaker.

Sound Practices
Casual Reactions
Article By Herb Reichert

VALVE Magazine
Triophoni: Triode Triumph
Article By Dan Schmalle

Show Reports
Munich High End Show Report 2013 High End Society

The Chester Group New York Audio Show 2013 Report

Viewpoint
In This Issue...
Huge issue with five World Premieres, two show reports, new Lifestyle & Design section plus much more!
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

From The Editor's Desk...
What do you love about music?
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

Video Celebration
The Making Of... Pink Floyd
The Making Of Dark Side Of The Moon

The Making Of... Alive! By Kiss
Documentary Featuring Engineer / Producer Eddie Kramer

Lifestyle & Design
Lamborghini's Aventador LP 720-4
Lambo's 50th anniversary edition V12 coupe.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

MB&F And Reuge MusicMachine Music Box
Stunning sight meets sensational sound!
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

Patek Philippe 5200G 8-Day And 5307P Minute Repeater
Impressive new grand complication timepieces from Patek Philippe.
Article By Steven R. Rochlin

Superior Audio
World Premiere!
VPI Industries Classic 3 Turntable
One powerhouse turntable / tonearm combo!
Reviewed By Anthony Nicosia

World Premiere!
Wells Audio Innamorata Stereo Amplifier
The best power amplifier you've never heard of?
Review By Wayne Donnelly

World Premiere!
Avantgarde Acoustic Uno Fino Loudspeakers
Stunning microdynamics and an ability to convey the smallest variations without hyper-detailness.
Review By Wojtek Pacula

Copland CTA 506 Vacuum Tube Power Amplifier
Hearing music's sadness -- the longing sigh -- as the music's essence tugs at your emotions.
Review By Ron Nagle

Audiophile Equipment Reviews
World Premiere!
VPI Scout 1.1 Turntable
Simply put, one of the best values in audio today!
Review By Alfred Fredel

World Premiere!
Napa Acoustic NA 208 H Headphone Amplifier
Presenting the music at a bargain basement $299 price.
Review By Alfred Fredel

April Music Stello U3 Digital Converter
One of the greatest bargains in computer audio!
Review By Dick Olsher

ifi iPhono, iDAC And iUSBPower iFi For Everyone!
Can the lucrative ultra high-end company AMR succeed at making bargain-priced equipment under their iFi brand too?
Review By Clive Meakins

PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium CD Player / DAC
A fantastic piece of vacuum tubed digital gear!
Review By Tom Lyle

Partner Magazine Reviews
The Absolute Sound
Sonus faber Venere Model 2.5 Loudspeaker 
A Tiny Goddess Grows Up 
Review By Neil Gader

PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium Integrated Tube Amplifier
A Tube Benchmark
Review By Dick Olsher

Hi-Fi+
Cyrus Stream X2 Digital Streamer
There is a lot to like about the Stream X2.
Revuew By Jason Kennedy 

Definitive Technology StudioMonitor SM 45 Loudspeakers 
Providing giant helpings of musical richness.
Review By Chris Martens

Hi-Fi World
Naim NAC-N 172 XS Preamplifier
the NAP 155 XS lacks the transparency I need to hear subtle differences
Article By Rafael Todes & Jon Myles

Timestep T-01MC Moving Coil Phonostage
Tony Bolton tries out a new phono stage for Moving Coil cartridges.
Review By Tony Bolton

HIFICRITIC
Headphone Shootout!
We review the Bowers & Wilkins P5, Grado PS1000, Grado SR80i, and Grado SR325i.
Review By Martin Colloms

Cypriot Phono Stage
Valves Galore: Some of the components seem to use valves as a token gesture. Not so with this one!
Review By Chris Bryant

DIY Audio
Bent Audio AVC-1 Modular Remote Control Autoformer Preamplifier
Oodles of resolution, excellent imaging and spatial effects!
Review By Clive Meakins
Resistors
Article By Grey Rollins

Music Reviews
Classical Music
Johannes Brahms
Handel Variations opus 24, Two Rhapsodies opus 79, Six Piano Pieces opus 118 and Four Piano Pieces opus 119
Review By Phil Gold

From Sony, a historically important reissue of Paul Hindemith's music played by the great Glenn Gould.
Review By Joe Milicia

Carl Orff Carmina Burana
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Review By Phil Gold

A brilliantly recorded and interpreted Shostakovich 10th Symphony on the bargain Naxos label.
Review By Max Westler

Rock, Techno, House, etc.
Atoms For Peace Amok
Two 140 gram LP @ 45 rpm
Review By Claude Lemaire

See the May Review Magazine by clicking here.

04 / 30 / 13

  Thiel Audio has announced their new CS1.7 ($3999 per pair) Coherent Source floorstanding loudspeaker. The CS1.7 employs Thiel's renowned phase and time coherent design using precision engineered first order acoustic crossover networks and the latest technology for the woofer and tweeter engineered by Thiel specifically for the CS1.7 project. Technology employed in the CS1.7 design is all new, leveraging much of the R&D from the flagship model CS3.7. The CS1.7 tweeter, based on the platform used in the enormously popular CS1.6 has been highly optimized for the CS1.7 featuring a new voice coil, new magnetic circuit and reworked aluminum diaphragm resulting in increased linearity and lower distortion. The aluminum woofer's "star" diaphragm was conceived using the latest laser measurement technology and also utilizes a new voice coil and magnetic structure that enables the driver to operate as a piston through a much greater range of frequencies. The crossover network is a classic Thiel first order acoustic design, maintaining the phase and time coherent nature of all Thiel loudspeakers. The cabinet is 1" thick and the massive baffle, with a low turbulence vertical port, is 2" thick. The CS1.7 comes equipped with leveling feet, however an optional brushed aluminum Outrigger base (pictured here) is available to improve the sonic performance of the speaker by maximizing stability on virtually any surface. Dimensions are 9.5" x 11.8" x 36.5" (WxDxH) and each unit weighs 54 lbs.

MusicMachine, a new limited edition product from MB&F, will produce just 66 pieces total of this special music 'box'. MusicMachine is a music box that looks and sounds out of this world yet contains all the traditional, time-honored elements of a superlative high-end music box. REUGE, the premier manufacturer of music boxes on the planet, with nearly 150 years of expertise and experience, is also part of this brave new project. With its dual propellers and twin silver cylinders mounted on sleek outrigger landing gear, MusicMachine looks like a spaceship hailing from a galaxy far, far away. Each of the cylinders on MusicMachine plays three tunes, all personally selected by MB&F founder and creative director, Maximilian Büsser. On the left, "may the Force be with you" with the Star Wars theme, "Imperial March" from The Empire Strikes Back, and the theme from Star Trek. Back on earth, the right cylinder plays Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall", Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" and John Lennon's "Imagine" – all tunes synonymous with MB&F's radical, nonconformist attitude.

Working out these two groups of three arrangements, each one limited to between 25 and 45 seconds, and the multitude of notes that these entail. The two vertical combs look like air vent grills on either side of the vessel's main body. Each comb contains the bespoke selection of 72 notes chosen by the Reuge musician in accordance with the three melodies that cylinder will play. Each comb forms a unique pair with its corresponding cylinder; neither can play properly without the other. The combs are hand-tuned from a unique steel alloy specifically selected for its acoustic impact. For bass notes, the weight of the tooth is extended at the back by the traditional method of adding lead. Main body is Walnut for the sound amplification chamber; white or black piano lacquered whilst the outriggers are bead-blasted and anodized aluminum; black matte-anodized for black version. MusicMachine is a limited edition of 66 pieces: 33 pieces in white and 33 pieces in black (the latter for those with a preference for 'the dark side'). Dimensions are 395mm x 475mm x 165mm (WxDxH), the unit weighs 2.97 kg and pricing is about 12,000 Swiss Francs.

04 / 29 / 13

  Schiit's new Bifrost Uber DAC/Analog upgrade card ($100) improves the sonic and measured performance of Bifrost, plus the company is offering a new USB card ($150). The upgraded uses a discrete, direct-coupled gain stage from the company's Gungnir. This discrete stage is more sophisticated than the base Bifrost, with a more complex topology, and DC servo to eliminate capacitors in the signal path and to improve on the performance of the AKM4399 D/A converter. The Bifrost Uber Analog card can be ordered with any new Bifrost, or can replace the existing DAC/Analog card in any Bifrost. Bifrost Ubers will ship with a specially serialized hologram label to distinguish them from standard Bifrosts. The new Bifrost/Gungnir Gen 2 USB input card now supports 24-bit/176.4kHz. It also improves USB performance across the board whilst featuring the C-Media CM6631A receiver and additional isolation and filtering.

Norma Audio Electronics, a high-end company based out of Italy, announces their new 2MHz IPA-140 ($11,000) dual-mono integrated with optional 32-bit USB internal DAC ($1000) based on Wolfson's highest level chip. Norma includes a CDR with custom drivers for Windows platforms – Apple based systems do not require. The company recommends the Audirvana+ player for Apple systems for sound quality that equals/exceeds cost-no-object disk-based system. Features of the IPA-140 include 2MHz bandwidth (-3dB), dual-mono design with separate signal and power supply PCBs for each channel, high current to drive difficult loads, high slew rate, and ultra-low noise for retrieval of low-level information. The company dares to boast Patek Philippe-like build quality, so get out your 10x loop and if you purchase one of these be sure to check every that solder joint is perfect and ever part, screw head, etc is immaculate before you accept delivery, as one does with a proper high-end Patek Philippe grand complication timepiece.

04 / 26 / 13

  HDtracks, the best site for the widest variety of high resolution digital music downloads, is offering three specials for you this weekend! You can receive 10% Off your entire order using code april10 and you can save 20% on Warner Music Group's Greatest Albums of All Time (both offers expire April 30th). Add to that, you can get 15% off jazz by using code 15jazz (also expires April 30th). HDtracks offers many high-resolution recordings compiled from an amazing collection of albums featuring the most popular artists and genres. Many albums represent the absolutely best available recordings anywhere for download in full master-quality from archival and preservation transfers re-mastered from the original recordings. Go hear for yourself how the artists, producers and engineers who created the music intended for it to be heard via free sample downloads. HDtracks includes album art, credits and liner notes not found in other download stores.

TGIFMUSIC
Here's a lil' Friday funkin' for your earhole... West coast Snoop 'n' Bootsy style for you crusin' convertible lovers out there :)

04 / 25 / 13

  Benchmark Media has expanded their product line to now include their DAC2 D ($1795) digital reference DAC without analog inputs. The DAC2 D is ideal for audio engineers or home enthusiasts who want to have the same top-of-the-line performance as the DAC2 HGC but don't need its analog inputs or the 12V trigger. Benchmark Media's DAC2 D shares many high-end features with the DAC2 HGC including the Sabre32 Reference eight-channel 32-bit audio D/A converter (ES9018). It handles 24-bit/192kHz PCM as well as native DSD conversion. Jitter reduction is enhanced as the DAC2 D has a low-jitter master clock which controls the transfer of audio data from the computer to the USB sub-system. The computer asynchronously transfers audio data to a buffer in the DAC2 D. The contents of the buffer are then asynchronously transferred to the D/A conversion sub-system. This second asynchronous transfer eliminates any traces of jitter that accumulate as the data is transferred between the USB and conversion subsystems. There is a front panel sample rate and word length display, UltraLock2 jitter attenuation and of course asynchronous USB 2.0. There is a polarity switch, home theater bypass, digital inputs, digital pass-through, and high-efficiency low-noise power supplies. The new Benchmark Media DAC2 D is available with both black and silver faceplates.

MUSIC
In honor of Ella Fitzgerald's 96th birthday (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996)... and dedicated to my wife Heather.

04 / 24 / 13

SneakPeek
We have posted not just one, not two, but three sneak peek World Premiere reviews from Enjoy the Music.com's May edition on Facebook! Right now you can enjoy links to our World Premiere of the VPI Scout 1.1 turntable and Napa Acoustic's NA 208 H headphone amplifier, with our Facebook FRIENDS getting an advanced look at our World Premiere of the Avantgarde Acoustic Fino speaker! In his review of the Avantgarde Acoustic Fino Wojtek Pacuła says "Suffice it to say one word: sensitivity. When it is 104dB/W/m, as boasted by the Uno Fino under review, every single flaw in the audio path, however small, is detected and immediately exposed". To see our three World Premiere reviews including the Avantgarde Acoustic Fino all you need to do is simply Friend us on Facebook, whilst Twitter users get to see the World Premiere of the VPI Scout 1.1 turntable and Napa Acoustic's NA 208 H headphone amplifier.