The Latest
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- Written by Peter Katsoolis Peter Katsoolis
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 June 2018 01 June 2018
Nordost QKore1 Ground Unit
When you power on your home audio system and turn it up, you don’t just bring the noise, chances are, you’ve got too much of it already in the form of AC-born (-/e) electrical noise. The AC power line is the lifeblood of a home audio system and its quality is critical to a system’s ultimate performance no matter how well designed the power supplies of your individual components. But what you are hearing (and therefore not hearing, as it were) is a function of the quality of your AC. Indeed, the perception that a hi-fi system often sounds appreciably better in the wee small hours after regular folk have stopped using as much electricity and gone to bed, is a recognised audiophile phenomenon, to this listener at least.
David Wilson & I, Flying High
The high-end audio community has been shaken by the sad news of the passing of David Wilson.
Gryphon Audio Designs’ New Princess – The Zena Preamplifier
Gryphon Audio Designs has announced the new Zena preamplifier which will replace both the single box Athena and the industrial design master stroke Mirage. At this stage, the Zena preamplifier provides the one-step-down choice below the flagship two-box Pandora.
Densen Danish Development
Densen Audio Technologies (or just Densen as the company prefers it), one of Denmark’s premier electronics makers, has released the new Oxygen CAST streamer featuring Google’s Cast Audio technology.
Bowers & Wilkins’ Brand New R&D Facilities
Where do you go when your R&D laboratories are among the best in the world and have been responsible for some of high-end audio’s most highly acclaimed loudspeaker designs? Well, you build an even better and larger facility with promise for the creation of icons of the future.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 17 May 2018 17 May 2018
The Australian Audio Contingent at High End Munich 2018
While the gathering of the world’s audio community sees companies from around the world congregating at the MOC Munich I, while of course shuffling to see as much as is possible under the almost overwhelming audio fare, had a particular interest in home-grown exhibitors. Our SoundStage! Network’s multiple part report (link here) covers nigh on the entirety of High End 2018’s smorgasbord of quality audio offerings, so here I concentrate on some scrumptious savourings from Down Under. By the way, although Döhmann Audio is not part of the story because the company did not exhibit, I came across several rooms where the Helix turntables were used as the analogue source. Kudos Herr Döhmann!
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 11 May 2018 11 May 2018
SoundStage! Australia at High-End Munich 2018
And the greatest audio Show on Earth begins! And yes, SoundStage! Australia via the prestigious SoundStage! Network, will have one of the most comprehensive show reports on the planet. We’ll be featuring the latest releases from the best brands in high-end audio. That will be our angle and focus for 2018. (You’ll find the SoundStage! Network’s extensive High-End Munich 2018 report here).
New Mark Levinson and Revel Distribution in Australia
High-end electronics brand Mark Levinson and speaker specialist Revel – both under the Harman International umbrella of companies – are coming under new distribution in Australia.
TonTräger Racks in Australia
Australian distributor Audio Magic has recently acquired the distribution rights for German manufacturer TonTräger, maker of handcrafted real wood audio racking systems.
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- 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’.
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- 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…
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- 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.
