SoundStageAustralia.com

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 October 2020 15 October 2020

McIntosh Laboratory MA352 Integrated Amplifier

There’s always a sense of both eager anticipation and excitement for the arrival of any McIntosh Laboratory product slated for review. The company’s products are uniquely and gorgeously styled, immaculately built and, as far as our experience goes, they have always performed. When we heard the new MA352 integrated amplifier had been sent to SoundStage! Australia HQ after only just landing by local distributor Synergy Audio, we feverishly went about making preparations for embedding it into our reference system. Cables were carefully run from source and dedicated circuit’s power outlets, supporting platforms were anchored down and a comprehensive list of auditioning software was enthusiastically curated. When the MA352 finally arrived and was fervently unpacked, its sheer beauty had us immediately smitten. In Yoda voice: In love, was I. But is this striking amplifier’s magnificence more than skin deep? Read on…

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 13 October 2020 13 October 2020

German Physiks Returns to Australia

Australian distributor of high-end audio products Nirvana Sound has announced a new partnership reintroducing to Australia loudspeaker design innovator German Physiks.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 10 October 2020 10 October 2020

McIntosh Laboratory Introduces MA12000 Flagship Integrated Amplifier

Building upon its portfolio of powerhouse amplifiers, McIntosh Laboratory has launched the new MA12000, the most powerful integrated amplifier the company has ever produced.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 08 October 2020 08 October 2020

Q Acoustics' First Active Loudspeakers

In a first for the company, Q Acoustics has announced the new Q Active 200 and Q Active 400 powered and wireless connectivity loudspeakers.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 07 October 2020 07 October 2020

Nirvana Sound to Distribute Sutherland Engineering

Sutherland Engineering, the analogue specialist brand which offers a wide range of phono preamplifiers, is now available in Australia via a new partnership with local distributor Nirvana Sound.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 October 2020 01 October 2020

Magico A5 Loudspeakers

It takes highly refined skills to adapt state-of-the-art technologies and design philosophies incorporated in a company’s upmarket models to far more affordable products. Doing so while keeping the integrity of not just the upper-tier products, but of the company ideology itself, is a juggling act that requires intelligent engineering and strategic wisdom. With the A series, Magico has managed to balance streamlined construction and revised design elements on to products which maximise performance and heighten affordability. As the culmination of Magico’s entry level ‘A’ line, the A5 is the archetypal embodiment of trickle down and re-engineered concepts.

Details: Written by Vedran Simunovic Vedran Simunovic; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 October 2020 01 October 2020

HANA ML and MH Moving Coil Cartridges

When you really think of it, there’s no particular reason why something like a gramophone and its records weren’t invented centuries ago by, say, Galileo, or Hero of Alexandria, or someone even earlier. The concept is so simple and elegant that it’s truly timeless, so much so that if an asteroid hits the Earth tomorrow, or if we blow up the planet, it is my firm belief that the only technology able to reproduce the sounds of yesteryears will be mechanical, based on vinyl and shellac records. Just because of that fact alone we should treasure these records, these plastic marvels that reproduce music every bit as good as a CD player or a streamer but fell out of favour in a world obsessed with convenience. Two cartridges that go a long way in pursuit of this noble goal are HANA’s MH and ML.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Ed Comment Ed Comment; Published: 23 September 2020 23 September 2020

A Tribute to Josef Riediger

I write this with great difficulty and sadness. Josef Riediger, friend, mentor and one of the pioneers of high-end audio retail and distribution in Australia, passed away peacefully yesterday. Josef had been courageously in battle with a particularly aggressive cancer.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Features Features; Published: 22 September 2020 22 September 2020

Feature: The Importance of Expert Analogue Rig Setup

Recently, the arrivals of a Transrotor Crescendo turntable and Reed 1X tonearm had this writer performing analogue system assembly acrobatics with the meagre remnants of near-zero muscle memory. After some brow swiping, I had the assembly of the various arm and turntable components finally completed. Next task was to tackle the complexities and inter-relationships of proper tonearm, cartridge and turntable adjustment. However, the skills and tools to properly do that are beyond me, leading to investigations on an aptly experienced and suitably equipped turntable set-up guru.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 18 September 2020 18 September 2020

MOON by Simaudio's Anniversary Edition System

By way of celebrating its 40th year in high-end audio, MOON by Simaudio has announced the new Anniversary Edition simpatico duo of 680D streaming DAC and 600i v2 integrated amplifier.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 18 September 2020 18 September 2020

McIntosh Laboratory C8 Preamplifier and MC830 Monoblock Amplifiers

McIntosh Laboratory has announced the new C8 valve preamplifier and MC830 solid state monoblock amplifiers, designs with metamorphic cues inspired by the company’s own MA252 and MA352 integrated amplifiers.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 17 September 2020 17 September 2020

New Network Cables From Siltech & Crystal Cables

Sister companies and cable specialists Siltech and Crystal Cables have just announced new network cables using each company’s advanced materials and proprietary technologies.