linnから、「Sekrit DSM」登場！！！

海外ニュース速報 [World]

Product Name:Sekrit DSM
Date of Introduction: December 2012
Type: Integrated digital music player, pre-amplifier, and power amplifier
Dimensions: 345 mm (width) x 44 mm (height) x 196.5mm (depth)

Raidhoから、「Diamond D1.1」登場！！CES2013にて発表。

海外ニュース速報 [World]

Price black $25500, walnut $28500 with stands.
Release at CES 2013.

Raidho has for the last 6 years been working with cones from Aluminum-oxide, as that is one of the hardest and stiffest materials, placed at a 9 on the Mohrs scale for hardness. We wanted a stiff material as to move the membrane resonances up and away from the pass-band. The ceramic cone from the C.1.1 has a first fundamental at app 12.5 KHz..(app 3dB peak) and we use the driver below app 3KHz where we cross it over with a 2.order roll-off . This is already in absolute terms an incredible performance…
Then why look further…?? I guess that is just the way we are, seeking and wondering what if…… Diamond is just a 10 on Morhs scale.. From nine to ten is not a big number, but in real-life values that one digit translates into a material that is 140 times harder than the ceramic we currently using… That mowed the resonance peak up where we cannot measure. Does it matter…. Oh yes it does… Is it Costly… Dont ask…
What is Diamond, and why bother.
Diamond is carbon locked in the tightest possible configuration. Natural Diamond is rare and formed under extreme pressure deep deep down under the ground. Pure diamond is pure crystalline bonded in an SP3 triangular structure, it’s totally glasslike transparent. (some say even liked by woman).
Industrial diamond is formed by a number of different industrialized processes where carbon atoms are forced so close together, (by pressure or by speed) that they can form the hard triangular Diamond SP3 bonds.
At Raidho we work with a process where the pressure to form the Diamond Bonds is created by building the needed pressure is formed by speed where our ceramic membranes are bombarded by carbon ions at speeds close to light. I our process we can reach around 50% SP3 bonds in the 10 um thick layer we build on top of the ceramic surface we have on our membranes. The rest of the material is SP2 bonded carbon “Graphite”
We have found that the 50% shearing between SP2 and SP3 is the optimum point for the process ability, the bonding and the improvement in stiffness ratio.
We could process the surface layer into more dense structures with more SP3, and less SP2 but then we would have to reduce the layer thickness and thus get less of the improved stiffness we are searching for. The balance is the internal stresses created in the diamond forming process. If stresses are too high the result becomes brittle and breaks the bonding to the substrate. With just an increase to 60% we would have to reduce the thickness to 1/5 and thus loose most of the stiffness gain. The Graphite Content makes the Diamond Layer Black(ish) in finish
With the Layer we have we are capable of improving the Stiffness of the cone so much that we push the first fundamental resonance outside the 20 KHz pass band we normally associate with HiFI, this means that the resonance peek (which by the way is “only” 3 dB) is damped more than 36dB by the crossover and is also pushed so far out that the energy content is the music signal is vanishing low. With Diamond membranes we remove this last bit of material coloration emerging from inner material vibrations in the Cone.
While the C series already set a solid mark for resolution and naturalness, the D-series just takes you that one step closer. To be Honest I was astound by the fact that something you can’t even measure on the finished speaker could make such a profound difference. It’s a totally new Ballgame, moving the target for the natural being there to a completely new level.”

finite elemente、Development & Design 4U GmbHに買収される。

海外ニュース速報 [World]

 

Development & Design 4U GmbH takes over audio furniture manufacturer

To fans of good quality audio furniture the name “finite elemente” has long been known and valued as a sign of good quality.

They and many furniture dealers now have cause to celebrate. We, the company Development & Design 4U GmbH, and our new managing director, Paul Sander, are delighted to inform you that we intend to build on the past success of the brand, and have restarted production and sale of the successful hi-fi products. The same also applies for the highly popular Soundboard “Hohrizontal 51”.

In addition to this, we plan to utilise the potential for development of the product range, and to bring innovative new products onto the market as soon as possible. Furthermore, we want to increase the attractiveness of the range still further by offering arange of complementary products. Measures to improve structures and more efficient use of transportation should also help to ensure that the relaunch of Development & Design is successful and becomes a success story for all involved, including both retail and end customers.

Look forward to our new product range for 2013.

The team at Development & Design 4U GmbH
In new premises from 01.01.2013

メーカーサイト

LINN、クリスマスまでの毎日、日替わりでスタジオマスター音源の無料ダウンロードサービスを実施中！！

海外ニュース速報 [World]

LINNが、クリスマスキャンペーンで、クリスマス（25日）までの毎日、日替わりでスタジオマスター音源の無料ダウンロードサービスを実施中です。

下記サイトにて毎日１曲の無料ダウンロードが可能になっています。

http://christmas.linn.co.uk/

VividAudio、Devialetと協同でfull digital controlの「Active GIYA G1」を開発中！！

海外ニュース速報 [World]

We have partnered with Devialet to produce a pair of GIYA G1’s that are driven by four Devialet D-Premiers, using only their internal filtering capability. Laurence has been working hand in hand with the engineering team At Devialet in Paris, developing the digital control over the four way GIYA system.

＊VividAudioのfacebookページにて、開発に取り組むLaurence氏の写真入りの投稿を見ることができます。

PMCから、「SE （Special Edition）」シリーズ登場！！！

海外ニュース速報 [World]

PMC is introducing the SE range of loudspeakers, building on the high performance levels of the critically acclaimed high-end three way models and combined with the finest traditions of British cabinet making. Music lovers will be able to enjoy greater levels of musicality and the aesthetic beauty of these special edition models.

Featuring the large three-way models, the IB2, MB2 and BB5, the SE concept combines PMC’s uncompromising build quality with the luxurious hand selected Rose and Rich Macassar veneers. Internally, the cabinets have been redesigned with additional bracing to generate a lower cabinet resonance for further reduced noise and a purer musical signal. The SE series posseses improved clarity in the midrange and better handling of transients in the fast attacking bass notes. This is further enhanced through the use of an innovative profiled dispersion flange, hewn from a solid aluminium billet, for the renowned PMC 75 midrange driver.

Special attention has also been given to the detailing on the terminal panel and the new tactile Nextel™ texture provides a luxurious finish on the drive units. Custom designed stands, finished in a matching veneer and fitted with large spun precision spikes, complete the aesthetic and provide a firm foundation for the speakers to work to their optimum performance.

Reflecting the company’s pedigree, the sound quality is second to none and encompasses all the attributes of a manufacturer at the very pinnacle of professional studio monitoring. Professional versions of the SE models can be found in studios like Teldex and Emil Berliner, which produce some of the world’s greatest classical recordings for labels like Deutsche Grammophon, DECCA, Philips and Harmonia Mundi.

Peter Thomas says of the new models, “Our i series has been a fantastic success all across the world, building upon our studio heritage to bring accurate music reproduction to music lovers in the home. Now, with the SE editions, we have improved the performance of these models even further so that the most discerning of audiophiles can enter right into the heart of their music and hear it sounding just like it did in the studio.” He continues, “And with the beautiful new veneers we have chosen, the speakers look every bit as stunning as they sound.”

MarkLevinson、新フラグシッププリアンプ「No.52」を正式発表！！！

海外ニュース速報 [World]

AVAILABLE JANUARY 2013

Raising the Standard for Ultrahigh-end Luxury Audio

The Nº52 is unquestionably the finest Mark Levinson preamplifier ever. This dual-monaural preamplifier isolates the critical analog audio circuitry from the control section by utilizing a two-chassis approach to provide the purest signal paths possible.

The Nº52 features seven analog inputs – three balanced XLR and four unbalanced RCA – as well as a dedicated phono input configurable for moving-magnet (MM) or moving-coil (MC) operation. Two sets of pre-outs are duplicated in both XLR and RCA jacks, while an additional auxiliary pair of XLR and RCA outputs is configurable, for fixed or variable output with independent source selection. This function allows the auxiliary output to function as a third pre-out, a pass-through full-range subwoofer output or a record output.

The Nº52 comes with a unity-gain SSP mode that integrates the connected sources into a home theater system while still maintaining optimal and independent stereo operation for music. System controls include Ethernet, Mark Levinson’s proprietary ML Net, and 12V trigger and IR control ports, as well as a USB connector that can facilitate software updates. Additionally, the included remote control also operates both the Nº52 and other connected Mark Levinson components.

The peerless craftsmanship of Mark Levinson is evident in every aspect of the Nº52. Within the control section, mirror-imaged DC power supplies and AC regeneration circuitry optimize power for the cleanest, most stable signals possible. Individual DC power cords supply power to the audio section in the second chassis to prevent extraneous noise from passing into the DC power signals, while communication and control signals are sent along a dedicated third cable to the audio section. The audio chassis is also configured in a mirror-image, left/right design with isolated, independent PCBs for volume control and for main and auxiliary signal paths. The communication signals are contained in a shielded central compartment, as is each channel of the phono input. Heavy aluminum extrusions and thick aluminum plates solidify the chassis and provide an optimized foundation for the audio circuitry.

Features and Benefits

• Two-piece chassis with separate control box and analog box

• Dual Monaural construction and signal paths/routing

• AC regeneration circuitry

• 7 Analog inputs: 3 XLR and 4 RCA stereo input pairs

• Phono input with support for both MM and MC cartridges

• Aux output path: 1 XLR and 1 RCA stereo pairs w/ fixed/variable volume and independent source selection

• Main outputs: 2 XLR and 2 RCA stereo pairs (identical w/ volume)

• Ethernet, RS-232, IR and 12V trigger system control ports

• Rear-panel USB (A) connector for software updates

• System remote control

メーカーサイト

Thiel、買収され新オーナーへ。（Thiel has been acquired by a private equity firm based in Nashville）

海外ニュース速報 [World]

THIEL Audio, winner of over 60 prestigious awards for loudspeaker design and performance since 1978, has announced that the company has been acquired by a private equity firm based in Nashville, TN. New THIEL CEO Bill Thomas has indicated that the brand focus will continue to be on premium quality phase and time coherent loudspeakers, with long time THIEL employees Brad Paulsen, Gary Dayton, Lana Ruth and Rob Gillum all remaining onboard.

“We identified THIEL as a brand with an unmatched heritage in performance audio and it is our intent to invest in the company’s infrastructure, strengthening the engineering department first and foremost,” stated Thomas. THIEL has just launched the CS2.7 and the CS1.7 is in the final stages of development, rounding out the CS series with the award-winning CS3.7. “We can improve efficiencies here at THIEL in the product development and manufacturing stages, shortening the time to delivery for new products with zero compromise in product quality,” added Thomas.

New product categories will also be explored for THIEL; with an expansion of the architectural series an immediate priority serving to further establish the brand as a leading supplier of premium distributed audio solutions. “We will invest considerable time and energy speaking to our distribution channels worldwide, gathering data about the marketplace from those who know it best before making any decisions about new product direction,” Thomas stated. Resources will also be allocated to improving the company’s website and other marketing initiatives.

In addition to Paulsen, Dayton, Ruth and Gillum remaining with THIEL, the entire factory team has been retained and the existing sales channel—comprised of reps and dealers—will remain in place. The R&D and manufacturing facility in Lexington, KY will continue to operate at full capacity as well—there are no plans to close THIEL’s renowned Lexington, KY operation.

THIEL CEO Bill Thomas will be available for media interviews starting Monday, December 3rd and welcoming press onsite at CES 2013, Bassano Ballroom 2601.

THIEL Audio Products Company of Lexington, Kentucky is a privately-held, engineering driven organization that performs research, design, and manufacturing of loudspeakers for the highest quality music and video sound reproduction in the home. The beauty of THIEL loudspeakers can be traced back to design concepts born from powerfully innovative thinking. For over 30 years, THIEL has woven a nearly magical synergy between engineering brilliance and an unfailing passion to create the most lifelike reproduction of recorded music. Along this quest for sonic perfection, THIEL’s customers, music aficionados, and audio press from around the world have lauded THIEL’s loudspeaker designs as some of the best ever conceived. THIEL manufactures ten individual products ranging in price from $1090 each to $14,700 per pair.

AVALON、サラウンド用スピーカー「LCR」を発売。

海外ニュース速報 [World]

KRELL、国内輸入販売をアクシス㈱から㈲アッカへ移管。１２月１日から。

国内ニュース速報 [Japan]

KRELLの国内輸入代理が、アクシス㈱から㈲アッカへ移管されます。
１２月１日より。

また、１２月１日よりアフターサービスについても㈲アッカの対応となります。