SoundStageAustralia.com

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

TARA Labs The Muse Interconnect and Speaker Cables

Over the last few decades, periodical fluctuations notwithstanding, the increased availability and reduced cost of high-grade materials, in conjunction with the development of more advanced software-controlled CNC machines and engineering software/computer modelling programs, have allowed the development of high-end audio of increasing sophistication and complexity. While this has meant that current affordable audio components offer superb engineering and build quality, at the other end of the scale, we have über high-end equipment employing up-to-the-minute material technologies and sonic performance that encapsulates what is presently technologically possible. Cable manufacturers are also utilising this wider engineering tools palette, adopting new techniques and materials in complex designs to bring the humble ‘wire’ up to spec in order to more adequately support these more sophisticated electronics and speaker systems. Enter TARA Labs’ The Muse.

Details: Written by Barry Jones Barry Jones; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 March 2018 15 March 2018

Lumin T1 Network Player

With more people than ever now relying on streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, or one of the plethora of more esoteric services as the primary source for their music, it is encouraging to know that most hi-fi manufacturers are now offering dedicated components to allow us to get our ‘musical fix’ in this manner (and potentially put an end to the accumulation of little silver discs to clutter up the cupboards).

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 14 March 2018 14 March 2018

Interdyn Takes on Distribution for SVS in Australia

Interdyn, one of Australia’s major distributors whose brand portfolio features some of the most popular names in audio such as Devialet, Oppo, Pro-Ject and Rotel among many others, has announced the acquisition of subwoofer specialist SVS as a new addition to its stable.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 09 March 2018 09 March 2018

Focal’s Songstress, the Kanta №2, launched at Audio Solutions, Sydney

Premier high-end audio retailer Audio Solutions in Sydney’s Mascot was the venue for the New South Wales launch of Focal’s new speaker, the stunningly beautiful Kanta №2 which is the premiere model in a new range of strategic importance to the high-end speaker manufacturer.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 09 March 2018 09 March 2018

McIntosh Laboratory's New MT2 Precision Turntable

As a third model within the McIntosh Laboratory’s turntable offerings, the iconic company has announced the new MT2 Precision turntable, soon to join the ranks comprising the highly regarded range-topping MT10 and mid-level MT5.

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

Definitive Technology Demand D11 Loudspeakers

While on a personal level I have a vibrant zeal for high-end audio and the results from the creativity and imagination of talented designers with less restrictions in production budgets, I’m also fascinated by what is possible to achieve when boundaries are tightly set on products aimed at the entry level. There have been many occasions where budget fare has impressed me with a sonic performance that is way above the expected. I found myself in such a scenario when I popped-in to Audio Connection, one of Sydney’s most respected and longest-established high-end audio retailers, while there to collect a Gryphon amplifier (Diablo 120 soon-to-be-reviewed). A zigzagging multi-dimensional conversation with affable proprietor Josef Riedeger on all things audio somehow wound up in the following scenario…

Details: Written by Josh Givorshner Josh Givorshner; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 March 2018 01 March 2018

Faber’s Power La Potenza & Grounding Box Power Products & La Potenza AC Cable

During the early days of taking up this hobby, there were certain chapters of audiophile lore that I found harder to swallow than others. While it’s not hard to hear the changes to a system made by switching to a different component, it can be hard to reach a consensus about the effect of upgrading cables and other ancillaries… It just couldn’t work, right?

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 21 February 2018 21 February 2018

Major Showroom Renovations at Sydney Hi-Fi Castle Hill

SoundStage! Australia has been informed that Sydney Hi-Fi Castle Hill is about to commence major showroom renovations to improve and expand the demonstration facilities available to audio enthusiasts in the Hills district and the wider Sydney metropolitan areas.

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

New Roon Labs Nucleus Streaming Devices

Digital playback software specialist Roon Labs has had a stellar rise in terms of what, arguably, many audio enthusiasts and music lovers around the world consider the best music playback platform. The company’s superbly designed software, with its state-of-the-art user interface and comprehensive metadata provision, is compatible with just about every file type and many music streaming services including Tidal. An ever-growing number of ‘Roon Ready’ devices also spreads across the spectrum of digital file playback. Now, Roon Labs announces its next indent into the audio space.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 16 February 2018 16 February 2018

X Marks the Spot

Digital specialist x-odos has announced the release of its second generation x|one a new high-end music server featuring a number of improvements and overall refinements over its predecessor.

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

REDGUM Audio RGPH2ENR Signature Series Phono Stage

REDGUM Audio’s Ian Robinson (Chief Designer) and Lindy Gerber (Marketing and Administration) run this uniquely ‘Aussie’ manufacturing concern and the team rate among the most dynamic, and nicest, duos in our local high-end industry. The company’s website, product instruction manuals and the nomenclature of the wide variety of product offerings also reflect the laconically quirky “larrikin” humour Australians are renowned for. But be reassured here and now that, while appreciating the lighter side of life, both Gerber and Robinson have their feet firmly planted on solid ground – REDGUM Audio designs are the fruit of astute design and concrete engineering principles.

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

Follow-Up: Yamaha NS-5000 Loudspeakers – Editor’s 2nd Opinion

As much as audio has advanced in the last 40 years or so, many enthusiasts will fondly – and admiringly – recall the Yamaha NS-1000, a truly iconic speaker that with its beryllium-based drivers heralded an unprecedented technological advancement in transducer design. Equally time compressing is my recollection, as if it was only yesterday, of the pleasure I had reviewing the Yamaha NS-5000 loudspeakers for another publication in another life (and this is a follow-up to Joshua Givorshner's first-dip review, link here). Over several weeks I had naught but sheer enjoyment from these highly-developed music communicators.