The preamp has a moving coil and moving magnet preamp section along with custom RIAA filters to match anything pre-RIAA according to Zell. Also included is Anthem's well-regarded ARC room correction and options that make integrating one or two subwoofers in various configurations…
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Earlier this year Anthem launched the STR Integrated Amplifier in a return to 2-channel, and representative Devin Zell explained that they have expanded that line this year with a 2-channel preamp and dedicated amplifier. The STR preamp goes for $4,000 and the STR amplifier goes for $6,000 and are available now.
Given the dramatic drop in the number of high-end audio exhibits at CES, only two companies chose to occupy the huge, high-ceilinged suites on the Venetian Hotel's 35th floor. The first, Lamm Industries, from the quiet little hamlet of Brooklyn, NY (where John Atkinson also lives), threw caution to the winds with a system whose total retail price was $649,440.
There was much to admire about this system. Although it was far from the most transparent system I've heard, its sound was warm and inviting on every selection played. A CD pressing of an analog recording of the Hot Club of San…
Chord Electronics, distributed by Bluebird Music, took pride of place in two systems in their multi-chambered suite on the 35th floor. In the main system sat the Chord Blu Mk.2 CD transport ($11,788), Dave DAC ($12,488), CPA 5000 preamp ($20,000), and SPM6000 750W monoblock amplifiers ($50,000/pair). Kubala-Sosna Elation cabling ($28,000 total)—my undying thanks to Gregg Kubala for going on a heroic quest for a bottle of water to help yours truly reduce the discomfort of desert-induced dehydration—and Vienna Acoustics Liszt speakers ($14,998/pair) drew a darker sound from the same Lou…
Sitting next to its big brother DAC/transport combo, Chord Mezzo 75 amplifier (75Wpc into 4 ohms, $4995), and new Spendor A2 loudspeakers ($2395/pair) was the diminutive new Chord Qutest DAC ($1795). A replacement for the 2Qute, this DAC does not contain a headphone amp, uses the same FPGA as in the Hugo 2, has a cleaner power supply than its predecessor, and includes four filters and the ability to output three different voltage levels. Expect it in stores in February.
Although the Qutest was not in operation when I visited, what was active in the system exhibited very clear…
KEF has just upped the ante on the LS50W, the wireless version of its lauded LS50 bookshelf speaker, with the release of the LS50W Nocturne Special Edition ($2499.99/pair). Engineered by KEF Head of Acoustics Jack Oclee-Brown and sporting an eye-catching design by Dutch Designer Marcel Wanders—I regret that my photo fails to capture all the graphic detail on KEF's Uni-Q driver and cabinet—the LS50W Nocturne Edition will be available on January 15.
The LS50W Nocturne Special Edition features 2.4GHz/5GHz Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 aptX, and optical (Toslink) connectivity; includes a 192…
Master & Dynamic, known mainly for their headphones and earphones, recently launched their MA770 wireless loudspeaker ($1800 each). Designed by Sir David Adjaye, who also designed D.C.'s new Smithsonian Museum, the 35-lb speaker's cabinet is made from exceedingly inert composite concrete. Designed to operate solo as a stereo unit—two can be linked together via WiFi for a wider stereo image—the speaker contains dual 4" woven Kevlar long-throw woofers, a 1.5" titanium tweeter powered by 100W of class-D amplification, and anodized aluminum controls. Its stainless steel grille is removable,…
Replacing the mid-size chassis offerings from M2Tech that were originally targeted to desktop and secondary system use, the new Rockstar line is now intended for main systems as well. The Young MKIII preamp/DAC features include additional digital inputs and analog inputs and outputs, DSD 256, full MQA, and Bluetooth APTX .
In the photo: on top is the Young MKIII preamp/DAC ($1,699), in the middle the Crosby power amp (80 watts per channel 8 ohms at $1,299), and at the bottom is an optional external linear Van Der Graaf MKII power supply ($980) which can power up to four devices and do…
Lumin's popular D1 has been updated to the D2 (black unit on top in photo above) with several new features: internal switch-mode power supply (no more wall wart), dual-mono Wolfson WM8741 DAC chips, reworked board layout, and DSD 128 support. There is also SPDIF out and you can bypass the internal DAC.
Importer Mark Gurvey stressed that Lumin products are designed by commercial engineers, not consumer electronics engineers, and they have created products such as set-top boxes for the satellite industry. "They design Lumin products for full firmware, software and FPGA updating so that…
Importer Mark Gurvey notes that this is the first time that fidata has shown products in the US, and they include a 1TB server (HFAS1-S10U at $5,000) and 2TB server (HFAS1-XS20U at $7,000) that are now available. Inside are sets of 500GB SSD Samsung pro-grade drives, and both servers are built on what Gurvey says is a "true audiophile" platform designed from scratch with physically isolated sections within the chassis for each function.
The impressively built (my opinion) fidata servers allow users to capture and tag music from a variety of sources and formats including DSD, WAV or FLAC…
dCS, D'Agostino, Wilson, Transparent, and HRS—how often have we found products from these companies making a synergistic and most musical match? As you'll learn from Jana Dagdagan's video once it's posted, Jana, John Atkinson, and I visited the spacious suite in the Mirage Hotel in which these companies paired a dCS limited edition Vivaldi 1 ($80,000 or, in the striking bright nickel finish seen in this room, $92,000) and Rossini clock ($7999); an HRS VXR rack; D'Agostino Master Systems Progression preamplifier ($22,000) and Progression stereo amplifier ($22,000); Wilson Audio Sasha 2 speaker…