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McIntosh celebrates 60 years, reissues classic stereo gear from its 1960s golden years
If your idea of a perfect evening involves taking in some classic two-channel stereo recordings while basking in the glow of tubes, get ready for a blast from the past courtesy McIntosh. In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the company is releasing limited edition bundle of its classic C22 preamp and a pair of MC75 monoblock amps. The reissues feature updated circuitry -- in the case of the MC75, reliability is improved while the sonics remain faithful to the original, and the new C22 has been brought up to modern performance standards and an IR remote has been added (because getting up out of your chair is so 1960s). To top it all off, each of the 120 bundles will include a signed copy of McIntosh's For the Love of Music, and in case you were wondering, "McIntosh limited" means pricey -- $15,000. Lucky owners are encouraged to supply their own scotch and smoking jacket.[Via Switched]
McCormack Audio debuts new amplifier, preamplifier for two-channel holdouts
We don't spill too much ink on 2-channel audio, but it's a mainstay of any music lover's diet. An old name from stereo audio that we had lost track of, McCormack, has recently popped back up with a new LD-2 preamp and DNA-250 and DNA-750 amplifiers. The brand has come a long way since its Mod Squad beginnings and now operates under the Conrad-Johnson banner, but the design (inside and out) sound like pure McCormack -- "Line Drive" architecture on the $2495 RLD-1 and "Distributed-Node" topology on the both the DNA-250 ($3995, 2x250-Watts) and DNA-750 (1000-Watt monoblock) amplifiers. For those not in the know, the McCormack name always delivered great sound (right on par with, Bryston, for example), and we expect nothing less from these components when they ship this month.
NAD introduces 7.1-channel T 737 / T 747 AV receivers
The goods keep flowing from the doors at NAD, and now we've got two new multi-channel AV receivers to swoon over. The lower-end T 737 checks in with 40-watts of power per channel, a trio of surround modes, AM / FM tuner, XM / DAB compatibility and iPod support. The T 747 steps it up with a 60-watt per channel amp, internal decoding of the latest lossless audio codecs from Dolby and DTS and an auto-calibration function to ensure your setup is, um, set up correctly. Expect 'em to hit retail outlets in February / January (respectively) for $799 and $1,299 (also respectively).
Pragmatic's HideAway amplifier brings zero-footprint audio one step closer
If you've gone through the trouble and expense of putting audiophile-approved speakers in-wall, there's a good chance you're a "separates, no receivers" kind of purist. Carrying out your streamlined install to the next level will require you to put the amplifiers in wall, too, so you might be a candidate for Pragmatic's HideAway Stereo Audio Amplifier 248. Your audiophile side will like the promise of dual monoblock amplifiers in the little 2x3.5x3-inch box, but while you might typically associate monoblocks with triple-digit power, this $550, 15V-powered unit pumps out 48-Watts continuous and 60-Watts peak and Pragmatic specs flat performance from 10Hz to 50kHz. Like all things custom install, you can accessorize here -- volume controls, rack mounts and even a junction box install await your pocketbook.
Sunfire ships high-end Theater Grand processor and amplifiers
If this recession isn't even close to fazing you, Sunfire's got a few components to sell you. The outfit has just started shipping its Theater Grand line of processors and amplifiers, and even the least expensive of the bunch would shock the average home cinema shopper. The TGP-401 processor ($3,500), TGA-7401 Theater Grand Amplifier ($4,450) and TGA-7201 Grand Amplifier ($3,250) are all leaving the docks as we speak, and those with the means to finance one can certainly venture down to the read link for all the nitty-gritty specs. As for the rest of us, at least we've something to aspire to, right?
NAD rolls out two-channel components for CES
Swinging to an opposite extreme from its $1,600 T587 Blu-ray deck, NAD is aiming for the budget-conscious stereophiles with the Classic Series set to appear at CES 2009. In the lineup are three amps, a pair of CD players, a stereo preamp and even an old-style stereo receiver. Trickle down tech from the top-of-the-line Masters Series components in the form of Class A gain modules, beefy chassis construction and other goodies is promising, but you know these pieces can't carry rock bottom prices with that kind of circuitry. Still, NAD has always been about "audiophile approved" sound at a fair price, and the spec-obsessed would be wise to consider the power ratings as conservative. If you've still got a foot in the redbook two-channel world, hit the link for details.
Ask Engadget HD: Best stereo receiver / amplifier?
This week's Ask Engadget HD inquiry caught us completely off guard -- we mean, how often do you hear of someone these days looking for the best of the best in pure stereo sound quality? Rather than buy a janky 5.1 system via a HTIB bundle, Thaddius is looking to make the best of a stereo situation. Help him out, won't you? "I have some nice speakers left over from a recording facility, and I'm looking to find a great receiver / amplifier that does stereo right. I'll be relying on two towers and possibly a subwoofer in the future, and I'm hoping for something known for excellent sound quality and a nice feature set. Any 2.1 aficionados out there care to chime in?" Surely this fellow isn't the only one looking to make their 2.0 / 2.1 system shine due to a lack of space for a full blown multi-channel setup, so why not provide a bit of assistance if you're in the same boat? Santa will love you forever, you know.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Bryston offers up a square deal on its SST amplifier updates
Amplifiers are pieces of gear that tend to get passed over when upgrade-itis strikes -- maybe it's the lack of bleeding edge tech features, dizzying lights or the scarcity of buttons. But Bryston's SST line of amplifiers has been a longtime fixture in the high end, both in 2-channel and surround sound setups. All eight models in the SST lineup have been refreshed to SST2 "Squared" status, updating the input stage, power supply, output chokes, and even the lowly power switch. Bryston's hand-built quality has never been cheap, but the company is offering up the SST2 upgrades without raising the price; so prices will range for $2650 for the 100-Watt, 2-channel 2B SST2 all the way up to $8000 1000-Watt, mono 28B SST2. For those of you who crave the latest, check the details after the break; the rest of us will be waiting for your previous generation Bryston hand-me-downs.
Rotel's flagship 15 Series of home theater components ships this month
You know those 15 Series components you forced yourself to overlook at CEDIA? Yeah, those ones begging for your kids' college savings? The whole Rotel crew is just about ready to ship, and just in time for Santa, no less. Receivers, speakers, pre-amplifiers and power amplifiers -- everything should be shipping in December, with the prices ranging from £350 for a simple RB-1510 two-channel installation amp to £1895 for the RSX-1560 AVR. Check the read link for all the juicy details (if your wallet can stand it).
VFD from VCR generates 40 VDC to power DIY amp
So, this is a pretty ingenious use of spare time. With a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) from a VCR used as the amplifier, a crafty DIY-er was able to power a pair of headphones. We'll be honest, the wiring specifics are totally irrelevant to our interests, but this sure does look awesome and we might buy one if it was commercially available. The amplified power is, in the maker's own words, "limited," but that's not really the point, and we have a feeling that Thomas Dolby sounded just as scientific (and awesome) as he would through the greatest headphones ever made. [Via Make]
Fiio's E5 headphone amplifier clearly admires Apple's iPod shuffle
Not that we haven't seen a headphone amp that's made for one of Apple's DAPs before, but Fiio's latest actually mimics the latest shuffle to sashay out of Cupertino's lair. The device reportedly puts out 150mW at 16-ohms with a rate distortion of <0.009% at 10mW. The rechargeable battery (which gets juiced via USB) is said to be good for around 20 hours of use, and while it's difficult to say exactly how awesome this thing is, the $20 price tag sure is tempting.[Via SlashGear]
Krell's S-300i integrated amplifier is iPod / iPhone-friendly
Like it or not, the iPod has become a de facto standard for portable media, and it's only logical that even high-end audio manufacturers cater to the demands of the market. To that end, Krell Industries has baked in native iPod / iPhone support into its latest integrated amplifier, the S-300i. Said amp features a fully balanced, Class A preamplifier circuit with a stereo amplifier rated at 150-watts per channel into 8-ohms and 300-watts per channel into 4-ohms along with a 750 VA toroidal transformer and 38,000 microfarads of storage capacitance. The iPod / iPhone interface taps audio from the fully differential output included in the devices, and the bundled remote is made of solid aluminum. You'll also find three unbalanced RCA inputs, a balanced XLR input, a jack for the iPod / iPhone cable and WBT speaker cable terminals -- 'tis a shame it'll cost you $2,500, huh?[Via CEPro]
Gefen's AV Scaler Pro with Amplifier is pretty much what the name says
In case you were worried that some AV hookup problem was going to go unresolved, Gefen has added yet another offering to its lineup with the Audio Video Scaler Pro with Amplifier (not to be confused with the company's TV Scaler Pro). This rack-mountable, black and blue little wonderbox will fill in switching, upscaling, transcoding and you guessed it, audio amplification. All you need to do is supply the video source in HDMI (two inputs), DVI, VGA, component, composite or s-video formats and corresponding audio (S/PDIF and optical for the HDMI, analog stereo for the others) and you'll be able to send a single HDMI signal with embedded audio down the line; or you can break out the two channels of 20-Watts audio right at the box's rear panel and hook up some speakers. If you've been looking for a way to get videogaming into the conference room, check the press release after the break.
Kenwood's Prodino gets good marks for storage options, not so much for price
The name of this portable digital audio system is partly derived from the Italian word for "great," and we're hoping it's an accurate descriptor, because at a likely price of ¥45,000 ($462) plus another ¥12,600 ($129) for an iPod docking station, this thing isn't as affordable (or stylish, for that matter) as previous products we've looked at. The Prodino (less sexily known as the CORE-A55) tries to earn the price tag by supporting not only USB but up to 32GB of storage on SD or microSD -- perfect for that slotMusic collection you wasted your money on. With speaker output at only 10W each, though, we're thinking a little shopping will find you a more attractive alternative.[Via Impress]
OWI releases in-wall amplifier to power up your in-wall speakers
For you out there with the whole-home custom installs who have run out of receiver channels of your universe or are simply unwilling to run amplified audio everywhere throughout the compound, OWI has a clever in-wall amplifier to power up your in-wall speakers and maintain that invisible audio system look. The AMP1SGB is a 25-Watt Class AB amp that can drive four speakers and fits in a double-gang box right inside your wall; all you need to do is find a plug for the wall-wart. It's definitely convenient, but we'd be willing to bet it's not the last word in audio quality, but seriously, when was the last time you were let down by the audio quality in your bathroom?
Yamaha brings the style with A-S700 / CD-S700 audio components
About this time last year, Yamaha treated us to its CD-S2000 SACD player and A-S2000 amplifier, both of which sported that timeless look that was just too dazzling to hide away in some AV cabinet. This year, the outfit is keeping with the trend by introducing the equally stunning (and even more silver) A-S700 amplifier and CD-S700 CD player (pictured after the break). The former features 90-watts x 2 of RMS power and gold-plated RCA inputs, while the latter includes a Burr Brown 192kHz/24bit DAC and a USB port for playing back MP3 / WMA files. Both units are destined to hit Japanese audio shops next month for ¥73,500 ($730) and ¥60,900 ($605), respectively.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Mark Levinson ships the No. 532 Dual Monaural Amplifier
If lending the company name to LG HTIB systems made anyone think that Mark Levinson was moving towards the mainstream market, the release of the No. 532 Dual Monaural Amplifier should lay those thoughts to rest. Not to be confused with a stereo amplifier for mere mortals, the No. 532 is really two 400-Watt mono amps that share power and control circuitry, bundled together in one tidy chassis. Obviously something only for the jet-set, the No. 532 is available now, but without pricing info -- that's got to be PR-speak for "If you have to ask..." Seriously, though, with the ML brand showing up on car audio and HTIB systems, doesn't this pretense ring a bit hollow?EDIT: The man Mark Levinson (behind the LG HTIB systems) has nothing to do with the brand Mark Levinson any more. -- Thanks, Spencer!
Cambridge Audio reveals iPod-lovin' Sonata / Fusion audio systems
Not content with sneaking a dedicated Blu-ray player into CEDIA, Cambridge Audio has just taken the plastic off of two new HiFi systems in Milan. The Sonata, aimed squarely at audio junkies, consists of a 2.1-channel DAB receiver (£299; $547), which offers 40-watts of amplification per channel and your choice of an upscaling 1080p DVD player or a Wolfson-DAC-loaded CD unit for another £179 ($327). The all-in-one Fusion (£300; $549) includes 30-watts per channel, an integrated CD player, DAB / FM tuner, USB port, an SD slot and a customized iPod dock (which is also bundled with the aforementioned Sonata). Both units are slated to hit the UK in silver and black, though the November-bound Fusion will get a jump on the Sonata, which hits in February 2009.
Griffin unveils AirCurve acoustic amplifier, Clarifi case for iPhone
We're not saying a transparent box designed to "acoustically amplify" your iPhone speakers is an unmistakable ripoff or anything, but we do believe your $19.99 would be better spent on materials and beverages of choice as you exercise that DIY muscle. At any rate, Griffin Technology has today introduced the AirCurve (that's the thing we just described) alongside the Clarifi ($34.99; pictured after the jump), a polycarbonate protective case for your iPhone 3G. Unlike alternatives, though, this one has a "close-up lens," which supposedly gives your iPhone 3G the ability to take remarkably detailed macro shots with even "more accurate colors." Call us jaded, but both of these things have marketing hoopla written all over 'em.[Via iLounge]Read - AirCurveRead - Clarifi
New iPhone products from Griffin Technology
Those inventive dudes at Griffin Technology have come up with two new products for iPhones.The AirCurve for iPhone and iPhone 3G is a really cool idea -- an amplifier that uses no power adapters or batteries. Instead, it amplifies the sound from the iPhone's speaker using a coiled waveguide (think of an old-fashioned cheerleader megaphone wrapped around into a helix, and you've got the concept). The AirCurve is made of translucent polycarbonate so you can see the curving waveguide. There's a pass-through slot so you can charge and sync your iPhone. The AirCurve is much less expensive than powered alternatives, selling for $19.99. The other new product, Clarifi for iPhone 3G is an attractive iPhone 3G case with a difference. It has a built-in lens that slides into place for taking close-ups. While the normal iPhone 3G can focus up to about 18 inches away from the subject, the Clarifi's lens can bring you in as close as 4 to 6 inches. The suggested price is $34.99. By the way, it's not as cheesy as the telephoto lens for iPhone we covered last month.Both products will be available in October from the Griffin Technology website and retailers.
