December 2012
Monthly ArchivesLAMM LP1 Signature Phonostage
December 29th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Lamm Industries has just announced the release of their all new LP1 Signature phono stage. This new dual monaural phono preamplifier model is Lamm Industries ultimate statement of high end audio. Just like the ML3 Signature and LL1 Signature, the LP1 Signature is one of the best creations of its designer’s professional career. The LP1 … Continue Reading
MIT Cables - StyleLink Digital USB Cables
December 29th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
MIT Cables has just announced two new USB cables that will be debuted at the upcoming 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking place in Las Vegas from January 8-11, 2013. Designed with the computer audiophile in mind, these new cables feature premium materials for the highest error-free data transmission of your digital media files. Featuring … Continue Reading
Monitor Audio Gold GX 5.1 Speaker System Review
December 28th, 2012, In Reviews, Speakers and Subwoofers, by Suave Kajko
If you have an exceptional memory, you might recall reading about the Monitor Audio Gold GX series speakers in these pages before. I reviewed the GX200 floor standing loudspeakers ($4,995/pair) from this series back in the October/November 2011 issue. The GX200 proved itself as a very capable speaker in my two channel system and offered … Continue Reading
Philips Hue Connected Bulb
It should be pretty obvious by now that the home of the near future will rely on smartphones and tablets. At the Guydster studio, we love to use our mobile devices to control various audio and video components. And now thanks to the Philips Hue connected bulbs you can also control lighting in your home … Continue Reading
ModWright Instruments KWA 100 Amplifier and LS 100 Tube Preamplifier
December 21st, 2012, In 2-Channel Amps, Preamps, Home, Reviews, by Suave Kajko
Earlier this year, in the April/May 2012 issue of CANADA HiFi, Phil Gold reviewed the ModWright Instruments KWA 150 Signature Edition Amplifier. He was so impressed by this amplifier that it ended up finding a permanent spot in his audio system. His high praise of the amplifier also inspired us to bring in a couple … Continue Reading
Earthquake Sound Cinénova Grande 7BR
December 20th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
The new Cinénova Grande 7BR incorporates seven independent amplifiers for lower distortion, greater power and enhanced channel separation. Each independent amplifier block uses a variable filter from 20Hz to 5kHz; the filter can be set in high-pass, low-pass, or by-pass mode via a 3-way selector. Both RCA low level & XLR inputs are accomodated. A … Continue Reading
Introducing Guyster – the guy’s guide to everything!
December 20th, 2012, In Home, by Suave Kajko
It gives me the outmost pleasure to introduce all readers of the CANADA HiFi magazine to a new project I’ve been working on for the last few months called Guydster – the guy’s guide to everything. The Guydster website is portal where guys can learn about some of the hottest and most unique new products … Continue Reading
YG Acoustics - the Sonja Loudspeaker
December 19th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
YG Acoustics has just announced their new flagship member of its family of loudspeakers, namely, the Sonja. YG Acoustics approach to development of the Sonja reflects the notion that form follows function in excellent design. The Sonja has pure and flowing lines, which complement the acoustics of the speaker. YG Acoutics claims that the Sonja’s … Continue Reading
Bits & Bytes - Digital Music Demystified Part II: An Introduction to Digital Music Playback
December 18th, 2012, In Audio, Features, Home, by George de Sa
Back in the April/May 2012 edition of the CANADA HiFi magazine, within the article “Bits & Bytes – Digital Music Demystified: An Introduction to Digital Music Playback”, we explored the basics of digital music playback. This consisted of a conversation about digital music formats, sample rates and various source options. Hopefully, you found that information … Continue Reading
Sharp ICC Purios LC-60HQ10 4K Ultra HD TV
December 18th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Sharp is joining the 4K Ultra High-Definition television race with their recent launch of a new flagship television - the ICC Purios LC-60HP10. The new 60-inch features consumer 4K (Ultra HD) resolution - for a total of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, as well as, Sharp’s ICC (integrated cognitive creation) image processor. In addition to being … Continue Reading
Mission SX Series Loudspeakers
December 17th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Mission, a loudspeaker company, has just unveiled its new range the SX Series, which is made up of seven models, including two standmount, three floorstanders and two centre speakers. Mission engineers designed new drivers for the SX Series that incorporate the latest research in composite metallic material technology. The design target was to generate a … Continue Reading
B&W C5 In-ear Headphones Review
December 17th, 2012, In Headphones/Earphones (and Heaphone Amplifiers), Reviews, by George de Sa
Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) is an audio product company that is based in its home town of Worthing, West Sussex, England and is part of the B&W Group. The B&W Group owns B&W and Classé Audio, distributing both of their products, as well as those of Rotel, a Japanese-based audio product company. B&W, as part … Continue Reading
Kaleidescape Store Internet Movie Service
December 17th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Kaleidescape, Inc. has just announced a new movie service, which Kaleidescape claims is an industry-first. What makes the new movie service unique is that it enables the digital delivery of movie purchases over the Internet with video and audio quality equal to Blu-ray Disc and DVD. A multi-year license agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution … Continue Reading
Olive ONE - HD Touchscreen Music Player
December 14th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Olive Media Inc. has just introduced their new Olive ONE, a all-in-one high definition (HD) music player / touchscreen device that provides simple and easy access to music libraries. Olive brings the high-end music server market to the music loving masses with theis new affordable device. Unlike other home music players, Olive ONE features a … Continue Reading
3beez Wax Music Management System
December 14th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
3beez, LLC, a new company that specializes in computer audio technology, has just announced their new Wax Music Management System for storing, cataloging, and playing music. The Wax system provides a flexible metadata scheme to allow for effective cataloging of music collections. The system can be accessed remotely via a tablet, desktop or even smartphone.… Continue Reading
Schiit Audio Magni Headphone Amplifier and Modi DAC
December 13th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Schiit Audio has just released their new Magni headphone amplifier and Modi USB DAC. These two new products are high-value, affordable components that benefit from Schitt’s experience. The Magni headphone amplifier has been designed to be sufficiently quiet for driving most IEMs, but provides up to 1.2W into 32 ohms, which is plenty for many … Continue Reading
Bryston BP17 Preamplifier
December 12th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Bryston Ltd. is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012. As part of this commemoration, they have announced the introduction of the BP17, a state-of-the-art analog/digital stereo preamplifier derived from the preamp section of the B-135 integrated amplifier that was introduced within the past year. Basing a component preamplifier design on existing architecture enables Bryston to … Continue Reading
NuForce HP-800 Over-the-ear Headphones
NuForce has just announced the HP-800, the company’s first over-the-ear headphones. The HP-800 is said to deliver the kind of performance that sound professionals require at a price point that’s easily accessible to audio enthusiasts. The HP-800 offers a natural warmth, realistic highs and visceral bass that only true accuracy is capable of attaining, thanks … Continue Reading
Samsung Galaxy Muse MP3 Player
December 11th, 2012, In Home, by George de Sa
Samsung is giving Galaxy smartphone users an amazing new way to enjoy music on the go with their all new Galaxy Muse MP3 player. With the new Galaxy Muse, using the Muse Sync Android app, Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II owners will have an innovative new way of syncing music, freeing them from … Continue Reading
Bose SoundDock III With Lightning Connector
Bose has just released the SoundDock Series III system, the company’s first SoundDock digital music system with the Lightning connector designed for the iPhone 5, iPod touch (5th generation) and iPod nano (7th generation). Now, owners can enjoy the iconic Bose SoundDock combination of small size and full-range audio performance from any iPod or iPhone … Continue Reading