During Tuesday’s Spring Fever press event, Samsung spilled their guts on two new MP3 players for 2009, the YP-U5 and YP-Q2, both scheduled for an April release.

The Samsung YP-U5 (aka the U5, aka DoReMi) has been roaming the wilds of Europe and Asia for a few months now, making a reputation for its affordable price ($39/2GB) and playful design. The player comes in a handful of colors (black, white, red, pink, blue), and includes a built-in USB stick, FM radio, FM recorder, custom EQ, DNSe audio enhancement, and support for MP3, WMA, and Ogg music formats. Battery life is rated up to 20 hours.

Photo of the Samsung U5 MP3 player

If you’re looking for something with a little more substance, the Samsung YP-Q2 packs audio, video, radio, and photos, and is available in 8GB ($99) and 16GB ($129) capacities, offered in black or white.

continued on CNet…

source: CNet

Legendary Luxury System Reissue Includes Two MC75 Monoblock Amps in Combination with a C22 Preamp; Only 120 Sets Available in North America

McIntosh® Laboratory, renowned as a leading manufacturer of the world’s best and most complete ultra-luxury home entertainment solutions, today announced that its highly anticipated 60th anniversary limited-edition reissues of legendary amplifiers are now available at select retailers. The reissued components, including the MC75 monoblock tube amplifier (modeled after the original 1961 version) and the C22 preamplifier (originally introduced in 1962), comprise McIntosh’s new Limited Edition 60th anniversary “Classic System.” Both components have been updated for use in today’s modern home entertainment universe, and only 120 sets of the classic system will be available in North America, for a suggested retail price of $15,000.

McIntosh Reissued Components

The luxury components will be packaged along with a special numbered version of the beautiful McIntosh tabletop book, for the love of music, signed by author Ken Kessler, renowned audio engineer and McIntosh co-founder Sidney Corderman, who wrote the foreword to the book, and McIntosh President Charlie Randall. Chronicling the McIntosh legacy since its founding in the early 1940s, for the love of music begins with the story of how Frank McIntosh, who ran an engineering firm that designed broadcast television stations, recognized the limitations of then-available audio equipment and set out to build a better amplifier. The resulting prototype became the famed 50W-1, a product that set new standards in audio amplification and is still the foundation of all high-performance amplifiers today.

Noted Mr. Randall: “As McIntosh looks back on our 60 years in home entertainment we have much to be proud of, not the least of which is the integral part we played in the emergence of what came to be known as ‘high fidelity.’ Our Classic System reissue is a storied reminder of our influential audio pedigree, and reflects two of our greatest triumphs, both now available with performance improvements and updated circuitry to ensure their continued technological superiority.”

read the rest on eCoustics.com…

source: eCoustics

www.mcintoshlabs.com

No your not having a flashback.  These are pillow speakers.  That is right.  You can use them to rest your drained brain on at the end of the day and full blast Slayer right into your head.  The speakers come with an embedded jack that you can just plug right into your MP3 player.  For $24.99 these are almost perfect holiday presents for that office secrete Santa.

- audioREVIEW

source: ChipChick.com

http://www.chipchick.com/2009/03/60s_inspired_mp3_pillow_speakers.html

TEWKSBURY, MA, Mar 26, 2009 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) —-M-Audio, a part of Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID: 9.27, -0.36, -3.74%), today introduced the new Studiophile(R: 26.93, -1.33, -4.71%) CX8 and CX5 studio monitors, which are designed to bring accurate monitoring to any mixing environment. The Studiophile CX series builds upon M-Audio’s best-selling studio monitor line, and delivers excellent off-axis response, minimal distortion and a full complement of Acoustic Space controls. Now, customers will be equipped with studio monitors that deliver accurate performance and the flexibility to adapt to any production space.

Available in 8-inch (CX8) and 5-inch (CX5) configurations, the Studiophile CX series monitors deliver well-balanced sound and superior detail in a wide range of environments. The new monitors feature a custom-designed waveguide that deliver an expansive soundstage — ultimately offering customers more flexibility in the production suite. The Studiophile CX5 monitor is tailored towards smaller mixing rooms, home studios or workstation areas where users require quality audio referencing. The Studiophile CX8 monitor is ideal for mid-to-large size mixing and referencing environments.

continued on foxbusiness.com…

source: FoxBusiness

CX8 - http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/StudiophileCX8.html $499.95
Top Features
exceptional design integration > well-balanced sound with superior detail
Acoustic Space controls > optimize frequency response for your room
OptImage IV high-performance waveguide > expanded, layered soundstage with large sweet spot
120 watts of dispersed power > extra headroom, minimal distortion
1.25-inch, silk-domed, high-frequency driver > clear highs
8-inch, Kevlar, low-frequency driver > full, tight bass
ultra-solid, internally braced cabinet > low transmission loss

CX5 - http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/StudiophileCX5.html - $399.95
Top Features
exceptional design integration > well-balanced sound with superior detail
Acoustic Space controls > optimize frequency response for your room
OptImage IV high-performance wave-guide > expanded, layered soundstage with large sweet spot
5-inch, Kevlar, low-frequency driver > full, tight bass
1.25-inch, silk-domed, high-frequency driver > clear highs
90 watts of dispersed power > extra headroom, minimal distortion
ultra-solid, internally braced cabinet > low transmission loss

Renesas Technology’s Digital Amplifier IC Offers Adaptable Audio Tuning for Quality Sound and Has a Space-Saving Package, Aiding the Design of Thinner Flat-Panel TVs

The New High-Power R2J15116FP Digital Stereo Amplifier with an Internal 24-bit Audio Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Delivers a 15W Maximum Audio Output in a Compact 7mm x 7mm Package

SAN JOSE, Calif.– Renesas Technology America, Inc. has introduced the R2J15116FP, a compact, high-performance digital amplifier. The new IC accepts an IIS digital-audio signal input, performs processing with a built-in audio digital signal processor (DSP) unit, and then amplifies the result to deliver adaptively tuned stereo output to two speakers at up to 15 watts per channel. A key feature of the device is its space-saving 7mm x 7mm (body size) package, which fits into thinner LCD and plasma flat-panel TV sets, as well as into thinner computer monitors.

Reducing thickness while boosting audio quality

Consumer electronics manufacturers have learned that thinner flat-panel TVs gain consumers’ attention and sales, so they’re devoting considerable effort into finding smaller components and designing clever video system packaging. However, they understand that it makes little sense to gain a premium “thin” look if by doing so the sound the set produces becomes degraded because quality components won’t fit into the enclosure. The trend to thinner profiles and narrower screen frames necessarily places considerable restrictions on speaker placement and mandates the use of smaller, thinner, less-conspicuous speakers that make it more difficult to achieve good-quality sound and sufficient audio volume and presence. Yet demand grows for better audio as buyers show preferences for larger screen sizes. Simultaneously, TV manufacturers opting to maintain continuity with the screen sizes and profiles of current models are seeking ways to obtain precise tuning of sound production to suit different environments and set designs, and also to enable product-line expansions.

read the rest on businesswire.com…

source: businesswire

Compact, Affordable PP-3 Digital Phono Preamp Integrates Turntables with PCs, iPods, Macs and More; Lets Users Easily Copy Vinyl Collections

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, introduces the PP-3 Digital Phono Preamplifier, a sophisticated USB-friendly accessory that allows its owners to easily copy music from vinyl LPs and other audio sources — like FM radio, audiotapes and CD players — directly to a PC, a Mac, an iPod or another MP3 player.

Compact and affordable, the PP-3 Phono Preamp integrates turntables into today’s stereo systems, while offering superb performance. Only 5.3 inches long by 1.38 inches high by 2.75 inches deep, its design updates NAD’s award-winning PP-2 Phono Preamp by adding a high-quality analog-to-digital converter, a USB interface, and CD-R VinylStudio Lite software. The program, supplied on a disc, lets users copy LPs directly to a PC or Mac in Wav or Mp3 file formats. Once in a computer, the digitized music can be burned onto discs, transferred to portable music players or otherwise manipulated.

read the rest on eCoustics.com

source: eCoustics.com

ncdrawl, a Stereophile forum user, post up some amazing finds. Videos of how tubes work by TubeDepotTV.

Watch and learn.

Here is another interesting video on how tubes work by BlueTubeProject.

source: ncdrawl, TubeDepotTV, BlueTubeProject

(Media-Newswire.com) - CEA’s Mark of Excellence Awards honored the company’s BGX-4850 for outstanding achievement and innovation in trend-setting custom home electronics.

Award entries were reviewed by a distinguished panel of industry experts over several weeks with two winners selected in each product category; Platinum and Gold. The BGX subwoofer was selected as the Platinum winner designating it as Best Subwoofer of all the entries.

A joint venture between THX and BG Radia, the BGX-4850 is an award-winning, architectural subwoofer system that incorporates advanced design concepts and technology developed by THX into a unique design suitable for today’s homes.

“The BGX project with our partners at THX has generated tremendous excitement throughout the industry for its ingenuous design as well as incredible performance,” said Warren Kocmond, CEO of BG Radia. “It is indeed gratifying to have our combined efforts recognized by such a prestigious award as the CEA Mark of Excellence.”

Powered by 2200 watts, the BGX-4850 is the first in-wall subwoofer to achieve THX Ultra2™ certification as well as the first audio product to incorporate THX Balanced Bass-line™, a proprietary new THX technology for delivering vibration-free bass from a compact speaker design. This means that the drywall will not be affected by long-term exposure to bass vibrations nor will sound from the rear of the subwoofer intrude into adjacent rooms.

read the rest on Media-Newswire….

source: Media-Newwire

Cut the cable clutter and go wireless with built-in Bluetooth and wireless headphones plus a 16GB capacity.

Ultra-compact 16GB music and video player with superior quality 2.4″ LCD screen, drag and drop file transfer and an incredible battery life of up to 36 hours.

Features
2.4″ QVGA (320×240) high brightness screen for superior colour reproduction. Plays video horizontally or vertically.

Built-in Bluetooth (AVRCP1.3 A2DP) - easily stream your music to compatible products (car audio, mini hi-fi, wireless headphones, etc).

Wireless Bluetooth headphones with basic player controls supplied (DR-BT21G).
Ready to use straight out of the box with built-in rechargeable battery.

read the rest on itproportal.com

source: itproportal

Delivers 4500 Lumens for Widescreen, Fixed Network Applications

Sony is expanding its line of high-brightness 3LCD business projectors for fixed network installations with the addition of the VPL-FW41 model. The new projector has a WXGA resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, produces 4,500 lumens Light Output of full white image as well as 4,500 lumens Color Light Output* and is designed for presentation use in education, government, corporate, house of worship, and hospitality applications.

“Through a combination of more efficient and durable optics technologies, as well as improved functionality, simple operation, and network capabilities, this projector gives users the tools necessary to perform high-quality, seamless multimedia presentations,” said Jay Chung, Sony Electronics’ marketing manager for LCD projectors. “More light is projected onto the screen at less lamp power, allowing for smaller, less expensive lamps that use less electricity and produce less heat. In this case, less is definitely more.”

For applications where more than a standard lens is needed, the VPL-FW41L is available. This model is not equipped with a lens, but four optional lenses are available to meet a range of needs — from long-throw projection in large auditoriums to short-throw rear projection in museums or classrooms.

read the rest on eCoustics…

source: eCoustics.com