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Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 May 2018 01 May 2018

Vitus Audio RI-101 Integrated Amplifier

It’s the ‘Golden Age’ of the integrated amplifier. Just sayin’. Why? Catch a web wave to any of the major high-end electronics manufacturers and you’ll see what I mean. Me? I’ve had a number of integrated amplifiers in-house over the last couple of years that have unquestionably taken the entire category to an unprecedented level of all-round quality to rival that of many preamplifier and power amplifier combos. Take a look through recent SoundStage! Australia review pages too, to see many-a-shining example. Valve-, solid state-based and hybrid, austere and extravagant… even Johnny Strabler-leather-clad. A state-of-the-art integrated enjoys the fruits of contemporary advanced engineering allowing the implementation of superior power supplies and the adoption of higher-grade transformer designs. Further, manufacturing sophistication has resulted in finer, tighter tolerance chassis construction and the development of modular architecture, expanding the functionality horizons of the humble ‘integrated’.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 May 2018 01 May 2018

sILENzIO Interconnect, Loudspeaker, USB and AC power cables

For quite some time prior to this review of the new sILENzIO über cables from Danish manufacturer ZenSati, I had been using as part of my reference system the superb flagship Seraphim cables. These unusual cable designs of multiple air-suspended twisted gold plated solid core conductors were resoundingly neutral, nourishingly musical, beautifully assembled and ‘bling’ enough to fit into the most beautiful high-end system contexts (and yes, to many enthusiasts the cosmetic aspect is actually quite important, especially at the price point). Up until that point, the Seraphim cables were ZenSati’s top-level offering while sILENzIO, now an independent line of über cables, was but a twinkle in company Founder Mark Johansen’s third eye. Fast-forward a couple of years and right now, after several months within my reference rig where they often managed to dislocate my jaw, I give you sILENzIO…

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Features Features; Published: 23 April 2018 23 April 2018

Record Store Day at Len Wallis Audio

Record Store Day 2018, which fell on Saturday April 21, was celebrated throughout Australia with live music events, vinyl sales rich with bulging bargain bins and general black disc camaraderie. At one of Sydney’s high-end audio institutions, Len Wallis Audio – with the man himself being there to meet and greet – the celebrations saw Mark Döhmann debuting the new Döhmann Helix 2 turntable while also making an appearance on the day were the superb Brigadiers Audio BA-2 standmount speakers by renowned engineer Brad Serhan.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 19 April 2018 19 April 2018

X-Files: Antipodes Audio Releases New X Series Music Servers

Digital music server manufacturer Antipodes Audio has re-imagined its entire range and announced the new X-Series products comprising of modular platforms at varying price points.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 20 April 2018 20 April 2018

BusiSoft Appoints First GM

Following on from our story on Michael Di Meglio’s parting with Advance Audio Australia, the official announcement has now come through of his appointment as General Manager at major Australian distributor BusiSoft AV.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 18 April 2018 18 April 2018

Bauer Turntables Available in Australia

The turntable manufacturer pool in Germany is rather massive. It encompasses all types of designs from companies spanning from artisan cottage producers to very large corporations offering multiple lines across the gamut of price points. One of the smaller specialists is Bauer Audio.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 17 April 2018 17 April 2018

Digibit Aria Piccolo Gets a Plus

The new Aria Piccolo+ from Digibit is said to provide the ultimate music server solution for audiophiles with large music collections in the silver disc or file formats.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 17 April 2018 17 April 2018

Stax ‘Earspeaker’ Celebrates 80 Years

Iconic electrostatic maker Stax is celebrating its 80 year anniversary producing some of the very best personal audio products with the release of the new SR-L300 Limited ‘Earspeakers’. A companion SRM-353X BK ‘Driver’ (headphone amplifier in Stax-speak) has also been announced.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 April 2018 15 April 2018

Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 120 Integrated Amplifier

High-end specialist Gryphon Audio Designs is renowned for the quality of its products in all aspects of design, be it style, engineering principles or sonic performance. Recently, the company has had considerable success with the astounding Diablo 300 integrated, a powerhouse offering which, as the name suggests, is rated at 300 watts per channel. The Diablo 300’s modular design is capable of accepting a top-shelf DAC and phono stage while bearing the usual Gryphon (for short) engineering and artistic design flair. Now, that glorious integrated amplifier sees the spawning of an offspring in the Diablo 120, a smaller sibling with just about half the power albeit with its bigger brother’s outstanding nuclear DNA running strongly through its circuit chromosomes.

Details: Written by Josh Givorshner Josh Givorshner; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 April 2018 15 April 2018

Absolare Signature Integrated Amplifier

Absolare, a company with facilities both within the USA and the Netherlands, is one of the brands that has made me cross a ‘divide’. From the introduction of its Passion series preamplifier and power amplifier separates in 2012, Absolare immediately positioned itself as a brand that was luxurious, bespoke and innovative.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 05 April 2018 05 April 2018

Audio Note-Kondo Japan Appoints New Australian Distributor

High-end iconic brand Audio Note-Kondo Japan has appointed Ultimate High-End as the new distributor in Australia.

Peter Vo, Founder of Ultimate High-End has been an admirer and owner of the products for some time and reached an agreement with the Audio Note Co. Japan management to form the new partnership to handle the superb and highly-regarded valve products in Australia.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 13 April 2018 13 April 2018

New Monoblock Amplifier from Audio Research

Audio Research has just announced the release of the new Reference series REF160M monoblock amplifier which introduces a new industrial design and aesthetic, beautifully marrying the company’s classic themes with the latest in display technology.