Signal savings: Signals SuperFi, LLC did something you don't see every day: It actually lowered its price for Stereovox Reference level SEI-600 interconnects. The SEI-600 is a line-level, single-ended, single-jacket "stereo" cable. Signals has dropped the price of a 1m pair from $999.99 to $749.99 (each extra 0.5m adds $250).The SEI-600 interconnects utilize pure silver conductors within air-articulated PTFE insulators and helically wound silver-plated copper shields. They are terminated with Stereovox's Xhadow Reference RCA connectors. "I designed the SEI-600s as an entry-point to the Reference line," said Chris Sommovigo, Stereovox designer and owner of Signals SuperFi. "Introducing the quality of Stereovox reference products to a greater range of audiophiles through a more affordable SEI-600 has been a long-term dream of mine."REL—the new generation: Sumiko partners John Hunter and Donald Brody recently announced that they had acquired REL Acoustics, Ltd. in Bridgend, UK and REL's cabinet-making facility in Sheffield, UK in November 2005.
REL is known for its "sub bass speaker systems," or subwoofers, and Sumiko has been its US distributor for the last decade, a period during which the manufacturer's sales have risen by "1100%," according to a press release. "The acquisition of the company was driven by 66-year-old founder Richard Lord's desire to retire," said Donald Brody. "Our first response was to try to convince him to continue, but after it became clear that Richard genuinely felt a need to retire, we realized that we both knew and understood REL's culture, their people, and core competencies intimately, and we felt we could really bring something of benefit to REL."John Hunter added, "REL is a special company: our sole aim is to be good stewards of what they have built. There are 55 English and Welsh men and women who pour their passion and attention to quality into their work every day. We're here to grow this company, to make it better in every way it needs. We're investing in better tools, hiring more experienced people, and paying careful attention to blending leading-edge design into the REL mix."Panamax acquires Furman: Panamax, the Petaluma, CA–based manufacturer of power conditioning products, has acquired Furman Sound, Inc., also of Petaluma. Furman is best known for manufacturing audio/video signal processors, although it also makes AC power conditioners and distribution products for the pro sound and studio markets.
Furman has one of the more colorful histories in consumer electronics. Founder Jim Furman was the sound engineer for the Grateful Dead and the Steve Miller Band in the early 1970s. In 1974, he got "into some kind of altercation with Steve Miller, who fired him," according to Furman Sound's Dave Diligkanich, "so he started making equalizers in his garage. His first product was the PQ3 parametric equalizer and he sold the first ones to the Dead."These days, Furman is booming in live sound venues, as well as with DJs, broadcast, and, increasingly, in high-end home-theater power conditioning. Grant D. Rummell, chairman of Linear, LLC., a Panamax partner, said, "Furman is a great fit within our Home Technology Group. Its offerings neatly dovetail with those of Panamax and expand our reach beyond the residential market and into the music industry."It must be Majik: Linn offered a sneak peek at its new Majik separates at the Sound and Vision show that took place in Bristol, UK February 24–26. Scheduled for world-wide release in May, the Majik system consists of the Majik CD player, Majik Kontrol preamplifier, and Majik 2100 power amplifier. Prices have yet to be determined.
The Majik CD is based upon technologies developed in Linn's Sondek CD12, as well as recent developments in the firm's switch-mode power supply. The Majik Kontrol also employs Linn's SMPS technology and incorporates a MM/MC phono preamplifier, as well as an additional five analog inputs. The Majik 2100 power amplifier, too utilizes Linn's SMPS and expands upon the company's Chakra amplifier technology, which, Linn claims, "delivers a superior, more controlled and efficient audio performance than other amplifier technologies."Linn points out that the separates are modular and expandable, allowing "the system performance to be enhanced over a lifetime." Because it is modular, the system can be upgraded to go AKTIV (translation: when used with Linn's speakers, can be fitted with an active crossover circuit so that each driver can be powered separately). The Majik separates are "multi-room enabled," which means they are easily integrated into Linn's KNEKT control system.
