Bluesound Node 2, $500: MQA and CD Streamer If you have not bought a Node 2 from us yet, you need to stop by – or order one on the phone! 414-354-5082 Bluesound is part of the NAD family. They didn’t ask my opinion but, I would have said, call it NAD Node 2 so everyone will know it’s from an established audiophile company. Since “nobody” has heard of Bluesound, one might be leery. I assure you, be leery NOT. Ah, these clever marketing people… they’re often too smart for their own good. Node 2 streams Tidal or
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Posts by The Audio Emporium
10.2017
We Welcome Hegel’s New H90 Integrated Amp $2000 (60×2) 3 1/8h, 16 7.8w, 12 1/4d, 27 lbs Hegel Audio of Oslo, Norway, brought out its H80 integrated amp ($2k) in 2013. H80 has been a defacto price class leader since its inception. Here we are four years later and H80 has been superseded by the new H90. We’re happy that H90 is the same price as H80. It has an improved version of Hegel’s patented Sound Engine technology, dubbed Sound Engine 2. With SE2 comes superior damping factor whose spec is 2000. Most amps have a damping factor of
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09.2017
New Entry On Our Site: ABC’s It’s up near the top, called ABC’s. It is a short list of my recommendations on how to assemble a dynamite system. It approaches the task from the beginning, with the Milwaukee credo of getting a dollar’s worth of performance for each dollar spent. Print it out. Highlight. Visit to discuss/audition! Mobile Fidelity UltraDeck+ $2000 MoFi introduced its StudioDeck+ ($1150) a couple months ago. I’m glad they did the roll out in summer when business is slower- because the StudioDeck+ has been on back order since day one. Mofi has been busy trying to
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08.2017
GoldenEar Triton Reference Speakers In Stock! $8500 Per Pair GoldenEar has begun shipping its new Triton Reference speakers. GoldenEar has made great value speakers since its inception. The T-Ref is no exception despite its up market price tag. T-Ref is larger than its brethren, of course. This allows the use of two new 6” mid-woofs used in a D’Appolito config. Centered between them is a spiffed up new ribbon tweeter. The speaker is rounded out with three, 6×10” powered subs. The amp is 1800w with DSP control. T-Ref is tuned with four, 9 1/2×10 ½ side firing Quadratic Radiators, two
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07.2017
New $800 Theater Amp From Emotiva: 125×5 Emotiva has just introduced its A5175 power amp. It provides a solid 125×5 with all five channels driven into 8 ohms. Emo is betting that this hits the sweet spot for most buyers. It is a notch above A500 ($500, 80×5), and notch below XPA5G3 ($1600, 250×5). Hence Emo now has three versions of terrific five channel amplifiers! It has commensurate 7ch amps too. Back In Stock- Emotiva MC-700 Pre-Pro $600 No sooner than Emo brought out its MC-700- it went on back order. We only had a handful and then… were out
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06.2017
Emotiva Airmotiv Speakers! Emotiva has introduced a line of extremely affordable loudspeakers, using ribbon tweeters no less! These models do not have amplifiers on board, so don’t confuse them with the POWERED guys Emo has on its site for studio use. These models are designed for home use, surround or stereo. These speakers have very extended high frequency response as a result of using the ribbons. You’ll find they sound quite clear, even with modest electronics- which includes light weight surround receivers. T-1 Towers, $700 Per Pair 1” Ribbon Tweet, 5 ¼ Woven Fiber Mid, Two 6” Woven Fiber woofs
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05.2017
GoldenEar Towers, Sans Built in Subs GoldenEar has made its name with wonderful sounding towers that have built in, powered subwoofers. They start at $2500 per pair and go up. They’re terrific speakers at good prices. A lot of visitors are surprised that GoldenEar also makes two towers that do NOT have powered subs on board. They make sense for the customer that wants GE sophistication- without the powerful bottom end. Maybe you’re in a condo. Maybe you have a nice outboard sub already. These two towers have the same attributes as their bigger brothers- with less shock and awe
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04.2017
Marantz Reference Series PM-10 Integrated Amp $8000 (200×2) Brand new is Marantz’s stunning, big boy integrated amp. I’ve always been a fan of Marantz’s Ref Series, made in its top factory in Japan. PM-10 just arrived and has pounded the high striker weight all the way to the top! Packed with TNT, PM-10 can wake up the hungriest of our loudspeakers and deliver bass in spades. PM-10 pushes REAL SPEAKERS like GoldenEars, Maggies and Brystons as well as more expensive separates. Up to now, Marantz Ref amps have been about half this power. It’s a pleasure to finally hear the
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03.2017
MQA MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is now real! As of 2-1-17, Tidal has been delivering a nice array of music in the MQA mode. You stream it for $20 per month. All you need to decode MQA is a Bluesound Node 2, $500. That’s right. For $500 you can decode MQA from Tidal NOW. There will undoubtedly be more competitive services soon. You shouldn’t stick your head in the sand and sit this dance out. Dive in now, get the Node 2 and hear the best sound your system can make. NOW. Normally, when something industry shaking hits the market,
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02.2017
Welcome Bluesound! Bluesound makes a group of reasonably priced products to move music around your house. Bluesound is unique compared to its competitors in that it plays Hi-Res files and decodes MQA as well! You can connect Node 2 to your preamp, integrated amp or receiver- and all the music of your computer is now there, with no loss. Bluesound makes a Power Node 2 with gutsy on board amp as well. Bluesound also offers an array of “boom boxes” to play the music as well. Again, Bluesound supports Hi-Res! And even further, Bluesound supports MQA! Bluesound gives us the
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