The Latest
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 26 October 2020 26 October 2020
CrystalConnect Launches with New Cables
Crystal Cables, now formally regenerated as CrystalConnect, announced the new Art series of signal cable solutions in a press conference at Shanghai’s International High-End Show.
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 15 October 2020 15 October 2020
Mark Levinson Announces New 5000 series Components
At a live stream ‘Mark Levinson Reveals’ global Press event today, a team of key Mark Levinson personnel announced the launch of the highly anticipated additional new 5000 series electronics.
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 15 October 2020 15 October 2020
New Bryston BR-20 Preamplifier
Bryston’s new comprehensively-featured BR-20 preamplifier is a tribute to recently deceased co-Founder Brian Russell and an adaptation of the company’s most refined circuit topology.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 15 October 2020 15 October 2020
McIntosh Laboratory MA352 Integrated Amplifier
There’s always a sense of both eager anticipation and excitement for the arrival of any McIntosh Laboratory product slated for review. The company’s products are uniquely and gorgeously styled, immaculately built and, as far as our experience goes, they have always performed. When we heard the new MA352 integrated amplifier had been sent to SoundStage! Australia HQ after only just landing by local distributor Synergy Audio, we feverishly went about making preparations for embedding it into our reference system. Cables were carefully run from source and dedicated circuit’s power outlets, supporting platforms were anchored down and a comprehensive list of auditioning software was enthusiastically curated. When the MA352 finally arrived and was fervently unpacked, its sheer beauty had us immediately smitten. In Yoda voice: In love, was I. But is this striking amplifier’s magnificence more than skin deep? Read on…
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 13 October 2020 13 October 2020
German Physiks Returns to Australia
Australian distributor of high-end audio products Nirvana Sound has announced a new partnership reintroducing to Australia loudspeaker design innovator German Physiks.
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 10 October 2020 10 October 2020
McIntosh Laboratory Introduces MA12000 Flagship Integrated Amplifier
Building upon its portfolio of powerhouse amplifiers, McIntosh Laboratory has launched the new MA12000, the most powerful integrated amplifier the company has ever produced.
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 08 October 2020 08 October 2020
Q Acoustics' First Active Loudspeakers
In a first for the company, Q Acoustics has announced the new Q Active 200 and Q Active 400 powered and wireless connectivity loudspeakers.
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 07 October 2020 07 October 2020
Nirvana Sound to Distribute Sutherland Engineering
Sutherland Engineering, the analogue specialist brand which offers a wide range of phono preamplifiers, is now available in Australia via a new partnership with local distributor Nirvana Sound.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 October 2020 01 October 2020
Magico A5 Loudspeakers
It takes highly refined skills to adapt state-of-the-art technologies and design philosophies incorporated in a company’s upmarket models to far more affordable products. Doing so while keeping the integrity of not just the upper-tier products, but of the company ideology itself, is a juggling act that requires intelligent engineering and strategic wisdom. With the A series, Magico has managed to balance streamlined construction and revised design elements on to products which maximise performance and heighten affordability. As the culmination of Magico’s entry level ‘A’ line, the A5 is the archetypal embodiment of trickle down and re-engineered concepts.
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- Written by Vedran Simunovic Vedran Simunovic
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 October 2020 01 October 2020
HANA ML and MH Moving Coil Cartridges
When you really think of it, there’s no particular reason why something like a gramophone and its records weren’t invented centuries ago by, say, Galileo, or Hero of Alexandria, or someone even earlier. The concept is so simple and elegant that it’s truly timeless, so much so that if an asteroid hits the Earth tomorrow, or if we blow up the planet, it is my firm belief that the only technology able to reproduce the sounds of yesteryears will be mechanical, based on vinyl and shellac records. Just because of that fact alone we should treasure these records, these plastic marvels that reproduce music every bit as good as a CD player or a streamer but fell out of favour in a world obsessed with convenience. Two cartridges that go a long way in pursuit of this noble goal are HANA’s MH and ML.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Ed Comment Ed Comment
- Published: 23 September 2020 23 September 2020
A Tribute to Josef Riediger
I write this with great difficulty and sadness. Josef Riediger, friend, mentor and one of the pioneers of high-end audio retail and distribution in Australia, passed away peacefully yesterday. Josef had been courageously in battle with a particularly aggressive cancer.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 22 September 2020 22 September 2020
Feature: The Importance of Expert Analogue Rig Setup
Recently, the arrivals of a Transrotor Crescendo turntable and Reed 1X tonearm had this writer performing analogue system assembly acrobatics with the meagre remnants of near-zero muscle memory. After some brow swiping, I had the assembly of the various arm and turntable components finally completed. Next task was to tackle the complexities and inter-relationships of proper tonearm, cartridge and turntable adjustment. However, the skills and tools to properly do that are beyond me, leading to investigations on an aptly experienced and suitably equipped turntable set-up guru.