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Details: Written by Tom Waters Tom Waters; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 September 2023 15 September 2023

Electrocompaniet AW 800 M Power Amplifier

Electrocompaniet has a legacy of nearly 50 years in the industry producing world-class Hi-Fi products. All its products are designed and manufactured in Norway – they are the leading Norwegian manufacturer of high-end audio products. Electrocompaniet products are used by audiophiles, industry professionals and world-class recording studios in 50 countries around the world. In fact, the company’s original AW 600 Nemo amplifier was reputedly designed and built to power the “hard to drive” Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus and 801 speakers back in the 90s. The focus of this review is the evolution of that venerable AW 600 Nemo, the brand new AW 800 M power amplifier.

Details: Written by Steven JM Polley Steven JM Polley; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 September 2023 15 September 2023

Crystal Cable Diamond Series 2 Reference Loom

When it comes to cables, we’ve all seen products with gregarious designs, from ones approximating ornamental garden hoses to those resembling a python that has just devoured its prey. Bulky cables with a "bigger is better" mentality are often perceived as superior or essential for greater dynamics and powerful bass. Among other desires, having more bulbous-looking cables would be on most audiophiles' wish lists. Anything less might diminish their pride, with most believing diminutive cables would not suffice. In that case, they’re disregarding the significance of substance over appearance, with the most critical factor being how cables sound and integrate within our systems.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 15 September 2023 15 September 2023

Nordost Launches QBase Reference AC Distribution Unit

First shown at High End Munich this year and making quite the splash at the event, Nordost’s ‘QBase Reference AC Distribution Unit’ is now formally announced and begins the process of worldwide shipping.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 08 September 2023 08 September 2023

McIntosh Laboratory Announces New PS2K Powered Subwoofer

McIntosh Laboratory’s PS2K is a reference level subwoofer with multiple low-frequency transducers and is destined to mate with some of the world’s best loudspeaker systems.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 September 2023 01 September 2023

Wilson Audio Sasha V Loudspeakers

Within the development of a research-based company timeline, how does such an entity express its philosophies within the context of a product’s identity and long-sustained lineage? Well, while some branch-off by introducing entirely new classifications bearing the company’s latest technologies, others continue on the engineering path of refining proprietary advancements to enduring platforms. The Wilson Audio Sasha concept is an example of the latter. The company has faithfully managed the development of its iconic WATT/Puppy, with each generation perfected via exclusive technologies culminating in the Sasha platform. Sasha was itself an anagenesis devotedly progressed to a second-gen and then on to the commemorative Sasha DAW, a tribute to company Founder David A. Wilson. Now, the DNA is further refined with the introduction of the next generation: the striking Sasha V.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 23 August 2023 23 August 2023

Bowers & Wilkins launches 600 Series 3 Loudspeakers

Bowers & Wilkins improves its award winning 600 series with a mix of bespoke and trickle down technologies in its latest ‘Series 3’ iteration.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 17 August 2023 17 August 2023

Lumin Announces Powerful D3 Network Player

First shown at the recent Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show 2023, the new D3 Network Player builds on Lumin’s stable of highly acclaimed digital music handling sources.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 August 2023 15 August 2023

Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Loudspeakers

It was back in late 2020. I recall, quite vividly, several weeks of bliss with Bowers & Wilkins’ 702 Signature Edition speakers (review here). Joy, joy. Over and above the excellent 702 S2 standard version (reviewed back in 2017), the ‘SE’ was the ultimate expression of the company’s highly popular 700 series. Its sonic skills were so sharply refined that it could cheekily face-slap with a challenging glove its 800 series entry points compadres. And then there was that insane ‘Datuk Gloss’ finish. Knock-out. Time-jump to Q2 2023 and I receive a call from Australian distributor Masimo Consumer’s John Martin offering to renew my acquaintance with the 702 flagship, now, in its latest-gen 702 S3 generational evolvement. “How about a review?” Umm… like, yeah!

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Features Features; Published: 13 August 2023 13 August 2023

Photo Feature – Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show 2023

In what seems like a stronger-than-ever comeback, the extremely popular Hong Kong High-End Audio Visual Show is back again for 2023. While this writer did not attend this year, SoundStage! Australia was fortunate enough to have had reviewer Peter Katsoolis’ bovver boots firmly planted on the flamboyantly carpeted ground of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. He’s heroically submitted a pictorial summation of the weekend’s huge high-end audio fest.

Details: Written by Barry James Johnston Barry James Johnston; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 August 2023 01 August 2023

Yamaha NS-2000A Loudspeakers

Yamaha needs no introduction, founded as Nippon Gakki Co. Ltd. in 1887, as a reed organ manufacturer, the company is a Japanese powerhouse of innovation across multiple industries. From motorcycles to outboard motors, pianos, to electronic keyboards, guitars, semiconductors, drum kits, Hi-Fi equipment, and mixing consoles, Yamaha is perhaps the only company that provides technologies and products at every step of the musical creative process. From the instruments that music is composed and performed on, to the mixers, effects units and monitors that it is recorded, mixed and mastered on, to the turntables, cassette decks, CD players, amplifiers and speakers, that inspire us at home, which complete and re-establish the creative cycle. Yamaha has an insight into the entire process, in a holistic manner unlike perhaps any other manufacturer. The NS-2000A, under scrutiny here, reaffirms the company’s creative power.

Details: Written by Barry Jones Barry Jones; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 August 2023 01 August 2023

EGM Audio Emerald AC Power Cable

I have to confess that I’ve never been tempted to invest heavily in AC power cables. I do own some Merlin Tarantula Mk6 power cables which I bought several years ago (without audition) for a modest investment and found it to be difficult to quantify much of an improvement above the standard supplied cables. I’ve swapped them in and out of production over the years tending to favour whatever cable was (gasp) most easily manoeuvrable behind my cabinet! While there seems to be more debate on the effectiveness of AC cables than signal cables, I’ve always been intrigued and wondered what a serious quality type of AC power cable could make. Enter the EGM Emerald…