Cinenow : Articles

Onkyo's New 9.2 SR5007 THX Ultra 2 AV Receiver

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:37:00 GMT

Onkyo have raised the bar once again with yet more receivers from their stable. Three new THX models are to be released TX-SR5007 Onkyo’s 2009 flagship model and the TX-NR3007 and TX-NR1007.

Set to be released in September the TX-SR5007 is set to retail for £2000 while the TX-NR3007 will be £1700 and the TX-NR1007 will be £1300.

The flagship TX-SR5007 has THX Ultra2 Plus which signifies that this receiver is designed to deliver reference-grade home cinema performance in rooms where the viewer sits more than 4 metres away from the screen and the room volume is 85 cubic metres or greater.

With 220 watts of power, 1080p upscaling, ISF Calibration, 8 HDMI input and two HDMI outputs you should have more than enough to keep you happy.

The TH-SR5007 is even ready for Windows 7 with DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7-compatible Networking Capability that allows it to both replay streaming audio files and access popular Internet Radio services such as LastFM/vTuner (subject to availability). MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, LPCM, WAV, WMA and WMA Lossless files are all handled with ease. The other big bonus networking gives is that the TX-SR5007’s firmware can be conveniently updated.

The TX-NR5007 comes with no fewer than three transformers. Massive toroidal for main power plus smaller separate ones for audio and video – plus newly developed, custom-designed high power transistors along with two substantial 22,000uf Audiophile-grade capacitors.

If you don’t need quite as much power as the TX-SR5007 then the TX-NR-3007 offers an excellent alternative. You get 7 HDMIs instead of 8 plus a single USB versus two (and one less AV input – but its feature set is otherwise very similar.

The ‘baby’ of this trio (still quite a big kid at 23.5kg!) the TX-NR1007 offers much of the magic of its two higher end companions but makes do with one less HDMI input, a few watts less power (there’s a single main transformer instead of three) and no USB ports. Video processing is assigned to a Faroudja DCDi Cinema chipset instead of the HQV Reon-VX found in the higher-level models.

Key Features TX-SR5007

KEY FEATURES – TX-NR5007
• THX Ultra2 Plus-certified performance… the ultimate home cinema benchmark
• Eight HDMI inputs (including one front-mounted)/Two outputs
• DLNA 1.5 and Windows 7-compatible Networking Capability for Streaming Audio and Internet Radio Connectivity for LastFM/vRadio
• Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz decoding
• 1080p video upscaling via HQV Reon VX video processor
• 220w per channel
• Bi-amping and BTL (Bridged Transless) capability
• ISF Video calibration
• Jitter Control Technology for cleaner sounding audio
• 4 x dedicated DSP modes for Gamers
• Triple transformer layout for main power (toroidal), audio and video
• 3-Stage Inverted Darlington circuitry for high efficiency and low distortion
• 6 x Ultra-low jitter Burr-Brown 192kHz/32-bit DACs (PCM1795)
• 32-bit Texas Instruments ‘Aureus’ DSP chips (1 x DA830, 2 x DA788)
• 4 optical/3 coaxial inputs
• U.Port for one-cable connection to optional iPod dock/DAB+ modules
• Front/rear USB ports (usable for Firmware Updates)
• Pre-programmed bi-directional backlit remote with macro capability
• Firmware updatable over the internet

Key Features TX-NR-3007

As per TX-NR5007 but…
• Seven HDMI inputs (including one front-mounted input)/Two outputs
• 200w per channel
• Triple transformer layout for main power (non-toroidal), audio and video
• Three audio inputs (four on the TX-SR5007)

Key Features TX-NR1007

As per TX-NR3007 but…
• Six HDMI inputs (including one front-mounted input)/Two outputs
• 180w per channel
• 1080p video upscaling via Faroudja DCDi video processor
• No USB ports
• Two audio inputs (three on TX-NR3007)
• Single transformer

Prices (all products available in September 09)

TX-NR5007 – £2000
TX-NR3007 – £1700
TX-NR1007 – £1300

Onkyo's New 9.2 THX Ultra 2 AV Receivers

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:37:00 GMT

Onkyo have raised the bar once again with yet more receivers from their stable. Three new THX models are to be released TX-SR5007 Onkyo’s 2009 flagship model and the TX-NR3007 and TX-NR1007.

Set to be released in September the TX-SR5007 is set to retail for £2000 while the TX-NR3007 will be £1700 and the TX-NR1007 will be £1300.

With 220 watts of power, 1080p upscaling, ISF Calibration, 8 HDMI input and two HDMI outputs you should have more than enough to keep you happy.

Key Features TX-SR5007

Key Features TX-NR-3007

Key Features TX-NR1007

Prices (all products available in September 09)

TX-NR5007 – £2000
TX-NR3007 – £1700
TX-NR1007 – £1300

Peerless SWS 550 Wall Mount Means Business!

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:29:00 GMT

Peerless wall Mounts are set to launch the new SmartMount SWS550, which can hold up to 90kg!

The SWS550 is designed to hold screens from 32 to an impressive 71 inch. If your wall can take it the wall bracket can be easily operated and can be fully extended to 76cm, and it’s also flexible enough to allow for movement of up to 2.5 degrees once the screen is positioned.

The one-touch adjustment system provides 15 degree forwards and 5 degree backwards tilting, allowing a screen to remain in a chosen position without the need for tools or locking mechanisms. It can also turn screens left or right up to 45 degrees for the best-possible viewing angle. In addition, the screen can switch from landscape to portrait while remaining on the mount.

The bracket even has a cable management system and as Gordon Dutch, Managing Director of BBG/Peerless comments: “The SmartMount SWS550 really is the daddy of all wall-mounts. Perfect for everyone from custom installers to DIY novices, its fully-flexible design provides easy-installation and adjustment, giving plasma and LCD owners the confidence to self-install also.”

Available in black (SWS550/BK) or silver (SWS550/SI), the mount has been rigorously tested to both UL (Underwriters Laboratories – which Peerless was instrumental in establishing in the US) and TUL safety standards, and comes with a 5-year warranty.

Retail price varies between £399 to £449 and are available in Black or Silver. The SWS550 even comes with a 5-year warranty.

Peerless was recently chosen as preferred wall-mount brand for Harrods and Selfridges. For further information visit www.bbg.eu.com/peerless

Arcam Release New Firmware Update For AVR600 Amp

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:22:00 GMT

Arcam have announced that they have released a firmware update for the excellent AVR 600 AV Receiver.

Some minor bugs were detected on the Amp and like other products from Arcam a simple firmware update is available. All you need is a RS232 cable and a PC to do the update.

A v1.9 software pack is available for the AVR600 and the AV88, which can be obtained by emailing Arcam on support@arcam.co.uk.

Firmware Update V1.9 Includes

1. Correctly muting optical out Zone 1 when Zone 1 is in standby but Zone 2 and/or Zone 3 is not

2. For iPod input, if a current list is empty the unit will now not show the “1 of 0” message

3. Correction made to the output resolution RS232 message to prevent incorrect information being sent

4. Correction made to the tuner tuned frequency RS232 message to prevent incorrect information being sent

5. When a video source is assigned to the iPod input, the VFD will now correctly update

6. Correction made to correctly restore audio when headphones are removed

7. Correction made to make sure Display stays off when set to off

8. Changes implemented to prevent the ARCAM logo being displayed after power up

9. During power down sequence correct RS232 power message will be send

10. Changing the input mode for iPod/Net input is now correctly implemented on the VFD

11. Improvements made to suppress the burst of noise when selecting FM presets

12. During auto setup, OSD now updates correctly to indicate the current progress

13. Changes made to the HDMI configuration when unit is connected to a sink in standby/off to prevent HDCP error upstream

14. Changes made to prevent unit lockup when sending multiple discrete power down commands

15. Changes made to improve reliability of audio over HDMI for certain sources

16. Improvements made to the HDMI Auto-Priority output switching

17. Changes made to WSS decoding/default setting – if the source does not indicate aspect ratio, it will default to 16:9 if the setting is auto

Sennheiser HD 238 Precision

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Hot on the heels of its 200 series of closed back hi-fi headphones, Sennheiser has launched an open-backed version, the HD 238 Precision.

The company claims they’ll offer superior audio reproduction but points out that they’re not suitable for commuters or for use on airplanes – the open back means anyone nearby will be able to hear what you’re listening to, though they should offer a more open, natural-sounding and accurate soundstage than their closed-back cousins.

They include Sennheiser’s Duofol low-resonance diaphragms for additional clarity and promise a frequency response of 16-23,000Hz. Lightweight with foam cushions for comfort, they fold flat for easy portability and come with their own carrying pouch.

The Sennheiser HD 238 Precision is available now for £70.

Cabasse: La Sphère

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

French speaker manufacturer Cabasse’s flagship La Sphère speaker is to get its first UK public hearing at the National Audio Show next month. The (very) high end £108,000 loudspeaker stands 1.4m tall and claims to be the ultimate expression of Caabasse’s SCS (spatially coherent system) technology.

The three-way tri-axial TC23 drive unit and 55cm woofer are digitally controlled and Cabasse claims this is the world’s only true point-source four-way speaker with one acoustic centre, absolute linear phase, optimum impulse response and ‘perfect’ spatial coherency.

The 70cm spherical enclosure is made from a sandwich of composite materials originally designed for the European space programme and rests on a specially designed spiral stand which can be adjusted for optimum listening height. For the price, a Cabasse acoustician accompanies delivery to adjust the speaker to whichever room it’s intended for.

The Cabasse La Sphère will be available in standard pearl or black pearl finishes but can also be made in any finish to order (should you feel the need to have them match the Ferrari in the garage).

The National Audio Show is on 26-27 September at Whittlebury Hall, near Silverstone.

Tannoy's new TS series subwoofers

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Tannoy has announced improvements to its TS range of compact subwoofers with a new three-strong range.

The latest evolution of the TS series promises improvements in performance, LF extension and flexibility through new cabinets, new electronics and a host of new features across the range. The compact cabinets are crafted from 18mm MDF on all sides and braced at the joints, offering a more rigid structure than previously to provide more accurate and tuneful low frequency reproduction.

The top-mounted control panel with LCD display hints at the new electronic control circuitry beneath, which includes fully variable gain, plus upper frequency roll-off and phase (0-180 degrees) control. There’s also single-point parametric EQ from 20Hz upwards with +/- 6dB variable Q control, a shelf filter to tilt the response according to room size, and three preset EQ modes – Audio (flat), Video (enhanced LF) and Night (less dynamic).

The subs include BASH amplifiers of 200, 300 and 500 watts with forward firing long-throw drivers of 8in, 10in and 12in diameter in the TS801, TS1001 and TS1201 respectively.

All have a new, patented, tracking switch-mode power supply, crossovers in the digital domain and long-throw drivers, plus bass has been extended 5-6Hz lower than previous models, now dropping all the way down to 21Hz.

Prices:

TS-1201: £600
TS-1001: £500
TS-801: £400

QED ‘XT Evolution’ speaker cable

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

QED’s new midrange XT Evolution speaker cable combines technology from the company’s high-end wires to offer ‘coloration-free neutrality’.

The XT Evolution is precision engineered in a ‘figure 8’ configuration, with each positive and negative conductor consisting of five individually insulated, 99.999% pure, silver-plated, oxygen-free copper sets, wound round a hollow central tube and held in place by a 100% Mylar wrap and a flexible, clear, 5mm diameter, polyethylene outer jacket. The cable is also promised to have exceedingly low inductance thanks to its parallel conductor geometry and hollow central spacer.

Phil Davis of QED’s distributor Armour Home, said: “The new cable combines technology from QED’s high-end ‘Genesis’ and ‘X-Tube’ cables. The result is a cable that boasts significantly lower impedance than a traditional speaker cable with pure copper cores of the same cross-sectional area. In short, it means XT Evolution exhibits the complete ‘coloration-free neutrality’, normally only found with much more expensive cable."

The XT Evolution is available now at an unterminated price of £6.50 per metre.

Philips PET744 portable DVD player

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:50:00 GMT

Only just in time for the great summer getaway comes Philips’ latest portable DVD player. The PET744 sports a 7in, 800 x 480-pixel resolution LCD screen with 16.7million colours which swivels through 180 degrees allowing it to be used as either a clamshell or tablet device.

It comes with a parent-friendly remote control, in-car mount and two headphone inputs as well as its own built-in stereo speakers and battery life is claimed to be six hours which should see you through at least three films in a single sitting.

As well as DVDs it will also play CDs and films or music via SD/SDHC memory card or USB. It can handle DivX, MPEG 4, DVD, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, SVCD, Video CD and Picture CD formats for video and CD, CD-RW, MP3-CD, CD-R and WMA for audio.

The Philips PET744 is available now for £150.

Philips PET744 portable DVD player – Sarah Noah

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:50:00 GMT

The Philips PET744 is available now for £150.

HANNspree ST HD TV series

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Quirky German electronics manufacturer HANNspree has unveiled a new series of HD TVs. The conventionally styled ST series features full 1080p HD resolution, HANNspree’s own X-Contrast and X-Celerate technologies, multiple aspect ratios and a 2 x 10-watt audio system.

HANNspree’s X-Celerate technology is claimed to reduce response time to ensure sharper images without motion blur, while X-Contrast delivers high 10,000:1 dynamic contrast by providing darker blacks and brighter whites.

HANNspree also claims picture quality is enhanced by three key performance features: the built-in 3D Comb-Filter and 3D Deinterlace technology which filters out scattered colour signals to produce more saturated colour and lifelike image quality, Digital Noise Reduction to improve the overall clarity and sharpness of a picture, and built-in 3.2:2.2 Pull-down Processing which corrects errors in frame rates to offer smooth, flicker-free pictures. All models have two HDMI 1.3 inputs as well as Scart, component, composite and VGA for PC connection.

The ST range comes in two flavours, the ST51 with 25in screen costs £269, while the 28in ST281 costs £329. Both are available now.

IXOS Oyster travel loudspeaker

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Possibly a little late for the summer party come the new Oyster portable stereo loudspeakers for MP3 players, netbooks and mobile phones.

The design from portable sound mongers IXOS allows the brace of lightweight speakers to magnetically clip together for protection while in transit, and are easily pulled apart for instant usability.

The Oyster speakers, finished in black, can be powered by USB connection from a laptop or netbook or via their supplied 4xAAA battery pack. They can be used with all devices which use a 3.5mm jack plug and feature 2 x 2in drivers with Neodymium magnets.

Toshiba goes Blu-ray – it's official

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Never ones to let corporate pride get in the way of sound business sense for long, Toshiba has announced its application to join the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), with a view to producing BD products later this year.

Rumours have been circulating for a while that the company was planning to release a Blu-ray player late in 2009 but the application makes it look like a certainty. The company’s rival HD-DVD technology having bitten the dust early last year, it was perhaps only a matter of time, but the Japanese company did hold out for a while, threatening to concentrate on DVD upscaling and downloadable movies.

A Toshiba spokesman said: “Toshiba has decided to join the BDA, and aims to introduce digital products that support the Blu-ray format, including BD players and notebook PCs integrating BD drives, in the course of this year. Details of the products, including the timing of regional launches, are now under consideration. We will make announcements in due course.”

The rumour game continues however, since the move may also have an impact on the Xbox 360, for which Toshiba provided a now-discontinued external DVD drive, and reports are surfacing that an Xbox 360 Blu-ray player could be on the cards. But for that we’ll have to wait and see.

Sony Release Seven New Blu-ray Player Systems

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:53:00 GMT

Sony are set to roll out not one but seven new Blu-ray player systems including three new all-in-one home cinema systems.

The BDV-E300 and BDV-E800W both offer 1080p and 1000W of Sony’s S-Master digital amplifier power. They also have the latest Blu-ray Disc features such as BD-Live for added content and features, 24p with x.v.Colour to let you see movies as the director intended, and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA with Sony’s Digital Cinema Sound.

Sony BDV-E300&E800W

BDV-E300 and BDV-E800W offer upscaling of your existing DVDs to near FullHD resolution, and have Sony’s Virtual 7.1-channel sound for a complete wraparound audio experience without filling the room with speakers. If you want the real deal of 7.1 you can with the wireless upgrade kit WAHT-SBP1.

The BDV-E300 from Sony uses five compact satellite speakers for the main channels and a powerful subwoofer, and offers wireless operation of the rear speakers with the addition of the WAHT-SA1 optional amplifier.

The BDV-E800W steps up with four floorstanding main speakers for front and rear left and right channels, the same high-power subwoofer, and wireless rear speakers as standard.

The final of the three is the BDV-Z7 which has just 2.1 speakers. This gives a virtual 5.1 surround sound experience without the need for rear speakers, offering 350W power output, BD-Live, 24p and x.v.Colour, Full HD video with the latest HD audio codecs, 1080p upscaling for DVDs.

Sony BDV-Z7

The four new systems which should be available now are The BDV-360FS which offers 400W, 2.1-channels and is set to retail for £500.

The BDV-360IS which comes with five of Sony’s ‘golfball-sized’ speakers and should retail for £600.

The HTP-BD36SS which has 1000 watts of power, five compact satellite speakers, and is wireless-ready, allowing cable-free operation of the rear speakers with an optional amplifier model.

The fourth system in the line up is the HTP-BD36SF which has the same concept and partners it with four floorstanding speakers for the front and rear left and right channels.

Sytstemline Goes Wireless!

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:48:00 GMT

UK based manufacturer Systemline are set to introduce their first wireless control product.

Distributed by Armour Home the Touchscreen is battery operated which is suitable for over 4 hours constant use, or days on standby. It is available in a gloss white, or a high-gloss black and comes with it own docking station.

Hidden inside the touch screen controller is the technology that allows it to communicate wirelessly with up 8 zone receivers in order to supply flexibility over which area is being controlled.

Named Systemnet the technology is based on a known platform, but some ‘tweaks’ have been made by the Systemline R&D team to fully exploit this technology for the multiroom market.

The wireless Touchscreen ‘pack’ also comes supplied with a Systemline wireless junction box. This device is connected directly to the zone cards in the S6 controller or the Modular speaker allowing communication from multiple wireless screens. These are also available separately should the installer wish to add more zones than controllers.

Systemline In Video

Systemline has just released the new version of Systemnet, version 12.0, which for the first time includes two way RS-232 control of AV products, starting with the NAD AV receiver range. Systemnet v12 will offer control of source selection, volume control, and built in tuners of the new NAD T Series receivers and the NAD VISO FIVE. This will also extend to control of the DAB module when connected to the NAD T series receiver.

Suggested Retail Pricing:

Wireless Colour Touchscreen, including charging base station

SY0510 – White – MSRP £850
SY0520 – Black – MSRP £850

Charging Base Station

SY0530 – White – MSRP £130
SY0540 – Black – MSRP £130

Wireless Receiver

SY0560 – MSRP £225

SVI Trade Awards Presented: In Video

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:05:00 GMT

Thursday 25th June wasn’t just the final day of CEDIA Expo 2009; it was SVI Magazine’s Trade Awards presentation day – the first in the event’s two-year history.

Following the incredible support shown to the Awards by members of the AV and CI industries, the SVI team decided that this year’s winners deserved something a little more tangible than the JPEG badge handed out last year; and, since large cardboard cheques were sadly beyond their means, they settled on certificates and an ExCel-based presentation instead.

Issue 64 of SVI features two pages of photos from the event, but as well as casting your eyes over still images of winners collecting their hard-earned prizes, why not check out video interviews with them too?

That’s right, the Cinenow.com team were also in attendance on presentation day, and had a chat with representatives of a number of the winning companies.

SVI Editor, Jake Stow, was also interviewed, and talks about this year’s Awards and what SVI has planned for the future.

Interviewees include BADA’s Phil Hansen – discussing Best Training Course, Demcraft; John Niebel from Lutron, who picked up the award for Best Lighting Control System; Crestron’s Greg Currie, who received the firm’s Best Manufacturer certificate; Tom Barron from PMC, which triumphed in the Best Floorstanding Speaker category; Rachael Beeching, from double SVI Trade Award-winning Artcoustic; and Keith Haddock, who collected SpeakerCraft’s Best In-wall/In-ceiling Speaker certificate on behalf of CSE Custom.

To see all the videos from the SVI Awards click Here

Tellurium:Q speaker cable

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

The Tellurium:Q speaker cable from former Inca Tech designer Colin Wonfor is a flat design so it can be run under carpets, has gold-plated plugs, and promises exceptional flexibility and increased sonic detail.

The cable benefits from very low capacitance which is claimed to help eliminate amplifier instability issues. This is apparently due to having a small cross sectional area bridged by a three-material insulator and air gap between conductors. It also promises improved frequency to phase response which helps with the definition of individual instruments.

The Tellurium:Q speaker cable is available now for £35 per metre and comes in 3m or 5m standard lengths (£210 for a 3m pair, £350 for a 5m pair).

Cable specification:

Inductance/Metre/Pair (common mode) 25nH
Capacitance/Metre 4pF
Breakdown Voltage/Metre >5000VAC
Maximum Working Temperature 150°C
Recommended Frequency Range 5Hz-2500KHz
Cable Width max 13mm
Cable Thickness max 1.7mm

Denon PMA-710AE & DCD-710AE

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

The latest models from Denon’s Advanced Evolution Stereo series are the PMA-710AE integrated amp and DCD-710AE CD player. The pair are aimed firmly at the midrange audio market but still manage to pack in some Denon-unique audio technology.

The PMA-710AE features a High Current Single Push-Pull Circuit which is designed to deliver improved detail while the circuit board layout apparently allows it to handle greater power from the amp section and respond appropriately to the output level and character of the signal.

The DCD-710AE includes several examples of proprietary Denon technology, including the AL24 processing analogue waveform recreation technology, plus Denon’s own D/A converters and DAC master clock design.

Both European-tuned models are available now in silver or black for £350

Best Videos Of 2009 So Far!

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:24:00 GMT

It’s been a great year for the industry so far year, despite the current economic climate.

Cinenow have filmed all around the world at the best Expos that the industry has to offer and below you will find some of the best and most interesting.

This year we have filmed ISE 2009, CES 2009, Bristol Show 2009 and CEDIA Expo 2009. We are set to film IFA in Berlin and CEDIA US so stay tuned for even more great videos which keep you up to date on all the current technology and gadgets for your home on CI business.

Premier Mounts launched the world’s largest flat-panel mount this year and it is designed to handle the Sharp 108" LCD HDTV and the Panasonic 103" Plasma HDTV.

Waterfall’s Nadine Dewell showcases the new Niagara Speaker at Bristol 2009. This impressive new speaker uses a new horn teeter which with the right cutting of the glass gives you an impressive sound quality. The entire enclosure is made in 15mm thick Diamond Glass.

Sennheiser’s great headphones the HD 800 were demonstrated by Rob Follis at this years Bristol show 2009.

Using a radical new design called ‘RING Driver’ this transducer is currently the largest that can be found in a dynamic headphone. The appearance of the HD 800 is also in keeping with its exceptional sound performance and all hand made in Germany, offering a futuristic design with a black/silver finish.

Saving the environment and being echo friendly is now a major part of the industry and back at ISE 2009, Panasonic details their latest energy saving screens. Enrique Robledo, European Marketing Manager, demonstrates on two TVs side by side that future TV panels will have only about one-third of the power consumption of current models. Watch for yourself.

Gryphon Audio Designs Mojo speaker

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Danish high-end loudspeaker manufacturer Gryphon has announced a new set of reference stereo speakers, the Mojo. The diminutive 20 x 52×42cm Mojo standmount follows the company’s monumental floorstanders, the Trident, Atlantis and Poseidon, and Gryphon claims it’s the only loudspeaker in the world capable of delivering ‘perfect phase at all frequencies at all times’. This is apparently due to its time-aligned, concave front baffle, which ensures that all the drivers deliver their sound to the listening position at exactly the same time.

Gryphon founder Flemming Rasmussen said: “Typically, speakers claiming time alignment employ a simple sloped front that is far less complicated and costly to build, but the concave baffle is the only way to achieve true time alignment for exceptional levels of transparency and musical realism.”

The curved baffle is also claimed to reduce reflections from floor and ceiling for enhanced clarity. The ultra-wideband Air Motion Transformer tweeter uses rear-mounted resistors which allow the listener to adjust the high-frequency roll-off and is flanked by a brace of 6in bass/mid drivers in a d’Appolito arrangement.

The Gryphon Mojo is available now in a variety of colours, priced EUR 12,500 per pair (without stands or VAT).

Pioneer DEX-P99RS in-car CD tuner

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Pioneer have said it intends to focus on its in-car audio products more after it announced the discontinuation of the Kuro TV range earlier this year, and it’s proved true to its word. The DEX-P99RS is a ‘competition-grade’ CD player and radio tuner with DSP (Digital Signal Processing) and iPod compatibility which will replace the existing DEX-P90RS and DEQ-P90RS CD player/tuner package.

It uses four 24-bit DACs to manage high, mid, low and subwoofer frequency channels for improved dynamic range while improvements to circuit and chip design mean that Pioneer’s four-way DSP (Digital Signal Processing) can be delivered without the need for a separate black box. The new DSP chipset, originally developed for Pioneer’s multi-channel surround sound systems, allows you to alter time alignment between the various speakers in the car throughout the frequency range between 20Hz-20kHz.

The master clock is claimed to be the most advanced that Pioneer has ever included in its in-car head units and promises to ‘virtually eliminate’ jitter. Advanced new dampers for the CD player also ensure freedom from vibrations originating from the mechanism’s own spindle motor.

A USB connection allows direct connection to iPod, iPhone and other portable music players via a cable which you’ll need to buy separately, and it can handle WMA, MP3, AAC and WAV formats. Pioneer’s Advanced Sound Retriever aims to replicate audio detail that has been lost in compression, and the system can also control iPods and iPhones. The unit is finished in brushed aluminium and comes with a rotary remote control that can be mounted on the steering wheel.

The Pioneer DEX-P99RS is available now for £1,250.

NAD wins design award

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Respected amp manufacturer NAD has been awarded the prestigious international 2009 reddot design award for the modular design construction of its £2,000 T775 AV receiver. The 28-strong jury of design experts from around the world commended the visual design of the T775, which it said, “represents a new stage in NAD’s traditional design language, which emphasizes functional simplicity and a restrained overall look. The front-panel vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) is complemented by a more comprehensive on-screen display available at the video outputs to give immediate feedback for all control actions”.

The jury also praised the receiver for its support of, “sophisticated third-party control systems used in home cinema solutions,” and “a simple yet flexible user interface (that) allows any combination of the 37 inputs in nine different signal formats to be defined for up to ten program sources. Each of these program sources can be independently selected,” the jury noted “and sent to any of three remote zones in addition to the primary surround sound media room”.

Greg Stidsen, NAD Director of Product Development, said: “We’re thrilled to be recognized for the innovative design of our products. This award honours the dedicated designers and engineers at NAD who work so hard to attain this level of excellence.”

New Klipsch headphones S2 and S2m

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Hot off the production line after the announcement of Klipsch’s new S4i headphones come two new models, the Klipsch S2 and S2m. The S2 in-ear headphone is Klipsch’s lowest- price headphone so far at £40 (its most expensive is £230) and includes a 5.8mm moving coil driver in each earpiece as well as three sizes of the company’s unique oval eartips for improved fit and comfort as well as isolation from outside noise.

Klipsch S2m

The S2m version is designed for mobile phones with a 3.5mm headphone jack, particularly the iPhone, and includes a microphone and call answer button dangling from the cord. The button also doubles as a remote control offering play, pause and fast forward on various iPod models including the iPod classic, iPod nano 4th gen, iPod touch 2nd gen, iPod shuffle 3rd gen and iPhone 3G S.

Don Inmon, Klipsch’s director of personal audio marketing, said: “People have less discretionary income these days. Therefore, we felt it was necessary to develop reasonably priced, high-performance headphones that go above and beyond what you’d expect from the stock earbuds that come with your MP3 player".

Both the Klipsch S2 and S2m are available now for £40 and £60 respectively.

Monitor Audio PL200: In Video

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:11:00 GMT

Speaker specialist Monitor Audio has released a new, ‘midrange’ addition to its celebrated Platinum range.

The PL200 is a stripped-down version of the established PL300, and the company hopes this smaller and cheaper model will appeal to a broader range of hi-fi enthusiasts, Holding roughly a third less volume than the PL300, Monitor Audio claims the PL200 has lost nothing in terms of sound or build quality – it’s just considerably smaller.

Cinenow filmed these great speakers back at Bristol 2009 so click on the video to find out more

So no new parts have been sourced for the PL200, but simply reduced versions of the originals, with a rescaled 6.5in version of the original 8in driver and a reconfigured example of the Tapered Line Enclosure (TLE) to align coaxially with the HiVe II bass reflex port.

The 4in RDT midrange driver and Monitor Audio’s unique C-CAM ribbon tweeter remain the same.

Standing just under a metre tall (the PL300 is 1.2m), Monitor Audio says the performance specifications of both models are almost identical, with the PL200 only slightly behind its cousin in terms of bass extension (35Hz rather than 28Hz), sound pressure level (117dB instead of 118dB) and power handling (250W to 300W). It’s also 10 kilos lighter at 33Kg.

Flatline Acoustic LS-400-OS outdoor speakers

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:00:00 GMT

US-based custom install speaker manufacturers Flatline Acoustic have revealed their latest in-wall speaker for outdoors, the LS-400-OS. The speaker features a paintable grille and bezel, while both drive units and cabinets are designed to withstand the traditional UK elements of damp and humidity as well as offering UV-resistance against sunlight. Well, you never know…

The LS-400-OS includes a 4in IMPP bass/mid driver and a 1in silk dome tweeter with a dynamic range of 65Hz-22kHz. The recommended amplifier power rating is between 10-100 watts and it comes with brackets which allow for either horizontal or vertical mounting.

The LS-400-OS is available now for £250.