Archives for Newsletters

GoldenEar SuperSub XXL $2000 (15 3/4h, 18 7/8w, 15 1/4d) With dual opposing 12” drivers and a 1600w amp with DSP, XXL reaches a new level of performance from GoldenEar. While the sound is prodigious, this Dual-Plane technology controls resonance like never before. You can run the sub to strong levels and still see a nickel sit on its edge without tipping over. This is no one note wonder. There’s ample detail and texture in its sound. Yet the output is WAUMPUS! If you want big time power yet control, SuperSub XXL sets new standards. We’ve seen dual-plane subs before
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Hegel H-360 Integrated Amp, $5700 (250×2) Is it fair that the best gets better? Hegel’s new H-360 raises the bar from its vaunted predecessor. The power rating is the same, 250×2. The improvement comes in a new, beefed up version of Hegel’s patented Sound Engine technology. Damping factor has been improved to an industry crushing spec of 4000! H-360 has a higher voltage transformer. Noise floor has been lowered due to separate transformer for preamp and DAC. New balanced inputs from the P30 reference preamp are employed for lower noise floor than ever. H-360 uses Apple AirPlay. Hegel’s master clock
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Due in any day! Bryston A Series Subwoofer, $2000 (17h, 17.75w, 15.25d) While announced a couple months back, Bryston’s new, A Series sub will ship “any day.” The A Sub is a unique animal configured to be super tight- to do justice to music as well as movies. The A Sub is a rear ported cube. The forward portion of what you see is wood. In the cabinet are dual, opposing ten inch, long throw, vibration canceling subwoofers. Bryston includes a sophisticated crossover and 400w RMS amp with linear power supply. This is a different design from everyone else who
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Emotiva Amplifiers Last month we announced that the Emotiva gear was arriving any day. It’s here, in the flesh. What I want to introduce now is the line of power amps. If you’re not familiar with Emo amps… wow! You’re getting so much hardware for your money that it makes “the other guys” look a bit wimpy for the dollar. These brawny amps muscle up in a number of configurations to help you run stereo or home theater. If you’re a two channel guy, you might be running a receiver or integrated amp. It may have all the inputs you
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Welcome Emotiva Audio Emotiva of Franklin, Tenn has offered very affordable, high end separate electronics, most notably gutsy power amps, since 2003. You can link to their page for the full offering, but I want to point out a particularly strong Emo product here. XPA-2 Power Amp, $900, 300×2, 73 pounds. 1.2 KVA transformer, 24 output transistors. AND… Emo is running a summer promo, $810. Are you serious?! This is INSANE! Oh, there’s more. You can buy a second one, run them bridged and have 1000w per amp! This is crazy cheap! Spend $1620 and get 1000×2?! These are Class
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Visit To Hear Our Dolby Atmos Theater! I can hear you saying, “Atmos, fatmos, who cares? It’s just Dolby with more letters.” I forgive you for that assumption. Sometimes, that is the case, much ado about very little. But this time… the update provides a real benefit. I don’t expect you to take my word for it. I am hopeful you will visit to hear it for yourself. I’m sure you’re going to be impressed, because I am! I’m a music nut. I enjoy concerts more than movies. When I heard about Atmos coming down the pike, I felt as
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Bryston Mini T Speakers, $2880pr (Laminate) or $3200pr (Real Wood) Bryston’s Mini T speakers are trending up in a big way these days. The Mini T fills a much overlooked category. That is, a large “bookshelf” speaker. For many years the large bookshelf speaker dominated our industry. That changed in the 80s when everyone and his brother came out with dinky satellites and a subwoofer that was pretty much just a boom box. The mass marketers pitched our wives on aesthetics. You should replace your old Advents or JBLs with our three little trinkets. We have to say, they were
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Bryston BDP-1 USB, $1800   Bryston offers a new model from its Music Player line. The task of BDP-1 USB is to connect to your USB source and strafe out all the computer debris. BDP-1 USB features four USB A style inputs. BDP-1 USB connects to your DAC with a USB A out- running a cable with USB A on one end and USB B into your DAC at the other. The BDP-1 USB will also access your network drive that has music stored on it. Bryston continues its dedication to improve your sound from stored music!     GoldenEar
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GoldenEar Triton 5 Loudspeakers, $2000pr, Gloss Black   GoldenEar will be shipping its brand new Triton 5 speakers this month. T-5 is a passive design like the very successful T-7 ($1400pr). There are no powered subs in T-5 (or T-7). Reviewer Mark Henninger: “To my ears the Fives embody everything I like about the GoldenEar sound- precise and transparent without being harsh or analytical. A perfect rendition of “Morning” by Beck served as proof of the Five’s prowess. What I heard coming out of the Fives put a grin on my face.” As you would infer, T-5 is a bigger,
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Bryston A3 Theater System Bryston’s A3 tower speakers ($2400pr) are getting recognized as being pretty special. They’re quite different from what our industry has gone to for “stock and trade” at the price point. Like all Bryston speakers, they’re made in Canada and have a TWENTY YEAR WARRANTY! What almost everyone else offers at $2.5k is a pretty mediocre rectangular box, with pretty mediocre drivers screwed into that box, from a factory in China. Since they have to be shipped here, keeping the weight down is important. They want it to be short and skinny so your wife won’t mind.
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