Noise-cancelling headphones are becoming the headphones of choice for a growing number of listeners, thanks to their ability to block out the cacophony of an increasingly raucous world and let wearers enjoy their favorite music, undisturbed by environmental noise. This holiday season, Audio-Technica® offers the perfect holiday gift for music lovers – the new ATH-ANC7b Quiet Point® active noise-cancelling over-ear headphones with 90% noise-cancellation. (SRP: $219.95).

Crystal Griffith, Consumer Marketing Manager of Audio-Technica noted, “The explosion of portable music players like the iPod®, the iPhone™, and laptops means that more people are listening on headphones than ever before. Headphones are becoming the primary means of listening to music for many – and people want to hear their music with the best fidelity possible. By eliminating intrusive environmental sounds, noise-cancelling headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b give listeners maximum musical enjoyment.”

read more on iphone.sys-con.com…

source: iphone.sys-con.com

Audio-Technica’s top-of-the-line turntable and software package offers easy USB computer connectivity, PC and Mac compatibility and a host of high-performance features

Audio-Technica today announced the introduction of its AT-LP120-USB Direct-Drive Turntable System, a professional-quality USB turntable and software package. The new top-of-the-line AT-LP120-USB is rugged and durable to meet the demands of professional use, and provides consumers with the flexibility to enjoy top-quality vinyl playback and easily transfer records to digital media files and CDs.

The AT-LP120-USB includes a direct-drive turntable and phono cartridge, PC- and Mac®-compatible software, a USB cable and other accessories.

Crystal Griffith, Audio-Technica Consumer Marketing Manager, pointed out: “Over the past few years, vinyl has been enjoying a remarkable resurgence among music lovers of all ages. With the continuing popularity of enjoying records and dubbing them to digital media, we recognized the time was right to introduce a true high-performance USB turntable system that combines exceptional record playback performance and sound quality with total ease of use.”

find out more info on eCoustics.com…

source: eCoustics.com

www.audio-technica.com

Sleek Audio has just introduced its new SA1 Tunable and Wireless Compatible Earphones, which can be used either as standard wired headphones or wirelessly via Sleek Audio’s Kleer system…and expand on the tuning options available in the company’s SA6 headphones by offering two treble port options that can be screwed into the earphones in front of the 6mm driver to customize the sound output to individual taste. The earphones also sport a rosewood body and a variety of sizing flanges for a comfortable fit.

read more info on digitaltrends.com…

source: DigitalTrends.com

Trends Audio launches PA-10 Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier for iPhone, a great audiophile gifts for iPhone user in Christmas!

Hong Kong, November 12, 2009 - ITOK Media Limited’s innovative Hi-Fi brand “Trends Audio” (www.TrendsAudio.com) launched its innovative Hi-Fi product for iPhone - Trends PA-10 Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier for iPhone. It is the first hybrid design utilizing a single 6DJ8/6922 series  or 12AU7 series input vacuum tube for iPhone. Integrating new technologies  in Trends iPhone to RCA  Audiophile cable, the user gets high quality audio out of the iPone or iPod with this cable. It effectively isolated the serious interference from iPhone Line Out.

“iPhone-Fi is coming. We let iPhone or iPod user could enjoy the music from high quality Tube Headphone amplifier. With compact design (only 0.5KG), easy portable and setup, it is suitable for hi-fi room, living room, sleeping room or even right beside your laptop computer. ” says David Ho, the marketing director of Trends Audio “The unique PC/iPod input with higher gain (6x) works with low output-voltage sources making Trends PA-10 Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier for iPhone perfect for integrating iPhone or PC into your audio system. It allows the users to access music files from the iPhone or iPod and watch movies with high end sound coming from your headphone.  With RCA output, you hook up to any line level inputs such as Trends TA-10 Class T-amp or any integrated amplifier and home theater receiver to play music through those systems.”

Trends PA-10 Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier for iPhone provides all functions of headphone amplifier and pre-amplifier and it is pure class-A circuit to provide the best sound performance and have fun tube rolling. A specially designed +24V AC power adaptor with extra low ripple & noise for Hi-Fi device is bundled for
continuous power supply and it supports:

1) iPhone ( 2G & 3G Version)
2) iPod 3 Gen.
3) iPod 4 Gen (Color & photo)
4) iPod 5 Gen (5.5 Gen)
5) iPod Classic (6 Gen)
6) iPod Mini (1 & 2 Gen)
7) iPod nano (1, 2, 3 & 4 Gen)
8) iPod Touch (1 & 2 Gen)

Trends PA-10 Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier is now available and the suggested retail prices are only Standard US$265, Special Edition US$299 and GE Edition US$299 and it may be the first and the most competitively priced Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier for iPhone on the market. For more information or interested to become their resellers, you can visit their web site at http://www.TrendsAudio.com or by phone (852)2566-5810 or by email at sales@TrendsAudio.com

About Trends Audio.
Trends Audio is a Hong Kong based company working in audio/video and multimedia production. Since the release of Trends TA-10 Class-T Stereo Audio Amplifier in 2006, Trends has received many prizes from Hi-Fi Magazine and Hi-Fi community worldwide. Trends Audio’s products have become legendary for their compact design, performance and reliability in high end audio market.

source: David Ho - Trend Audio

Aaudio Imports Introduces Music’s Missing Link for PCs, Macs and Hi-Fi by Lindemann of Germany

Tiny USB-DDC Digital-Digital-Converter Cleverly Connects Computers, Music Servers and Web Clients to High-Performance Music Systems

CES 2010, LAS VEGAS, Nov. 13, 2009 — Aaudio Imports, a leading supplier of world class high-end audio products, introduces into the U.S. market the USB-DDC 24/96 Digital-Digital-Converter (USB-DDC) by Lindemann of Germany at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, beginning in January. The Converter is the missing link between computers and high-performance audio systems, enabling the interference-free transfer of music files — a must for audiophile music lovers.

Tiny USB Digital-Digital-Converter connects PC, Macs and music servers to hi-fi systems.

Only slightly larger than a deck of cards, the compact the USB-DDC enables a high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to process music files from PCs and Macs, allowing users to connect laptop and desktop computers, music servers and Web clients to the digital input of any DAC or CD player. The connection, by USB input and RCA or TOSLINK output, converts the USB audio stream to the SPDIF digital audio standard. The device’s conversion of the PC digital standard (USB) to the digital audio standard (SPDIF) explains its designation as a Digital-Digital Converter.

The USB-DDC’s ingenious Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) synchronization delivers digital audio data with extremely low jitter. At the same time, it galvanically separates connected computers and audio grounding systems, maintaining their electrical isolation and preventing interference from reaching the audio system. This allows users to fully use premium quality converters when playing the music files stored in their PCs or Macs, without the need for a sound card.

The USB-DDC 24/96 Digital-Digital-Converter is available now from authorized dealers at a suggested price of $650 (U.S. MSRP). It can be seen with other outstanding Aaudio Imports products at the Venetian Hotel, Suites 30-116, 30-118 and 30-120 during CES.

About Lindemann
Founded in 1992 by Norbert Lindemann, Germany-based Lindemann audiotechnik has established an impressive record of innovation and elegant design in its high-performance amplifiers, preamplifiers, CD players, loudspeakers, cables and other components. Technical highlights include the world’s first CD player incorporating upsampling technology, early adoption of the Super Audio CD standard in partnership with Sony, and a groundbreaking analog power design for its power amplifiers. For further technical information, visit www.lindemann-audio.de.

About Audio Imports
Based in Parker, Colorado, Aaudio Imports is a leading supplier of truly world-class high-end audio products to top quality dealers. Its high-end manufacturers, selected from companies around the world, also stand out from the crowd, and include Acapella in Germany, Audiotop in Switzerland, Bergmann Audio in Denmark, Einstein Audio Components in Germany, Isoclean Power in Hong Kong, Lindemann and Millennium Audio in Germany, Stage III concepts in the U.S., Tidal Audio in Germany, Weizhi Precision in Taiwan, and  Ypsilon Electronics in Greece. Aaudio Imports dealers are true music lovers, selected for their product knowledge, listening skills, and desire to seek out only the best for their customers. For further technical information, visit Aaudio Imports’ Web site at www.aaudioimports.com.

source: J. B. Stanton Communications

Ingenious Sindre Airbearing Turntable with Airbearing Tonearm Floats
Like a Butterfly with Advanced Technology and Superb Reproduction

CES 2010, LAS VEGAS, Nov. 13, 2009 — Bergmann Audio, a leading specialist in airbearing turntables and linear tracking airbearing tonearms, introduces into the U.S. market the exceptional Sindre Airbearing Turntable with Airbearing Tonearm at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, beginning in January.

The Sindre is a high-end, airbearing turntable with a linear tracking airbearing tonearm built using as few parts as possible in a simple, timeless design, in keeping with Bergmann’s “less is more” philosophy. Its luminous, 8.8-pound acrylic platter floats on a thin film of air, and is centered by a steel spindle in a low-fiction, vibration-muffling polymer housing. The air supply is noiseless, and Sindre is extremely easy to operate and adjust.

The Sindre turntable uses a thick acrylic disc on an aluminum subplatter atop a mammoth fiber board plinth for maximum stability.

Why Air?
Bergmann has found its airbearing technology to be superior to other bearing solutions in important ways. For example, the airbearing is frictionless, reducing bearing noise to a minimum and yielding exceptional speed stability. The airbearing tonearm also glides frictionless, its only contact with the turntable being through the stylus tip and the wire of the tonearm.

The bearings’ unique friction-freedom expresses itself through an emotionally engaging musical reproduction in which nuances and details are natural parts of a transparent and vivid acoustic image, with an unexpectedly effective bass response.

The Sindre’s air bearing consists of two aluminum discs between which a pumped air supply creates a thin, frictionless film of air. The belt-driven platter rests on a 7-lb. aluminum subplatter, and both reside atop a massive plinth comprising three layers of solid fiber board. The plinth stabilizes the tonearm, and rests on three adjustable spikes for easy leveling. The spikes provide the smallest contact surface possible to prevent substructure vibrations from reaching the turntable.

The tonearm is made of a very hard aluminum alloy. It consists of a long fixed air pipe with small vents that create a frictionless film of air on which the pipe gently floats. The arm tube is made of carbon fiber and mounted on this sliding pipe. The head shell, made with the same hard alloy as the rest of the tonearm, is parallel with the sliding pipe, which results in a perfect azimuth. The internal wire is twisted in one piece from clips to plugs to minimize soldering along the sensitive signal path. The tonearm includes an adjustment for the Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA), and another for horizontally adjusting the air pipe, which is independent of the plinth.

Overhead view shows the relationship of the Sindre’s tonearm to the platter, and the simplicity of its classic design.

The Sindre Airbearing Turntable with Airbearing Tonearm is available now from authorized dealers at a suggested price of $20,000 (U.S. MSRP). It can be seen with other outstanding Aaudio Imports products at the Venetian Hotel, Suites 30-116, 30-118 and 30-120 during CES.

About Bergman
Bergmann Audio is a Danish manufacturer specializing in airbearing turntables and linear tracking airbearing tonearms. Every part is handcrafted in Denmark to optimize the airbearing principle, and achieve the exceptional sound and timeless designs for which Bergmann is known. For further technical information, visit www.bergmannaudio.com.

About Audio Imports
Based in Parker, Colorado, Aaudio Imports is a leading supplier of truly world-class high-end audio products to top quality dealers. Its high-end manufacturers, selected from companies around the world, also stand out from the crowd, and include Acapella in Germany, Audiotop in Switzerland, Bergmann Audio in Denmark, Einstein Audio Components in Germany, Isoclean Power in Hong Kong, Lindemann and Millennium Audio in Germany, Stage III Concepts in the U.S., Tidal Audio in Germany, Weizhi Precision in Taiwan, and Ypsilon Electronics in Greece. Aaudio Imports dealers are true music lovers, selected for their product knowledge, listening skills, and desire to seek out only the best for their customers. For further technical information, visit Aaudio Imports’ Web site at www.aaudioimports.com.

source: J. B. Stanton Communications

Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 launches at CES 2010 MM-1 computer speaker to debut in Las Vegas

Desktop Hi-Fi speakers for PC or Mac. Full range sound from two-way speakers. No subwoofer required. USB streaming for top quality sound. Stylish design to complement latest computer hardware.

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin gave iPod® users the ability to listen to music from a portable device in hi-fi quality for the first time. The MM-1 desktop speaker similarly breaks new ground, but for computers. Desk-bound entertainment fans will finally get the audio performance their collection deserves. Whether it’s music, video or games, the MM-1’s performance will revolutionise the experience.

Designed by the same acoustic engineering team that developed Zeppelin and the high-end 800 Series speakers used in Abbey Road Studios, the MM-1 draws on close to five decades of experience in audio excellence. Unlike many desktop solutions, the MM-1 is a serious hi-fi speaker: a full range, active, near field monitor, with two separate drive units including an aluminium dome tweeter for a refined treble performance.

Key proprietary Bowers & Wilkins technologies such as Nautilus™ Tube Loaded tweeters find their way into a speaker of this type for the first time. And new DSP technologies such as Bowers & Wilkins’ own Dynamic EQ, maximises bass output, and allows the MM-1 to provide full range sound without the need to resort to a subwoofer.

The MM-1 also has advantages for private listening, thanks to its high-quality headphone output. Audio from a computer passes through the MM-1’s DSP and into its headphone socket to produce a sound that’s a dramatic improvement over a standard PC or Mac headphone output.

Design, build and materials are very much up to the premium quality Bowers & Wilkins’ demanding customers are accustomed to. The MM-1 itself is an incredibly attractive, yet discreet piece of engineering, while the choice of materials and build quality are of class-leading quality. User-friendly features such as the integral cable management system make for a remarkable package, and the MM-1 comes supplied with a pebble remote control that provides intuitive control over the speaker, and also works within iTunes® and Windows Media Player on a Mac or PC.

At work, at play or simply taking a break, the MM-1 provides you with the kind of sound that your digital media collection deserves.

Bowers & Wilkins will also be showing its P5 headphones for the first time at CES 2010. A noise-isolating Mobile Hi-Fi Headphone, the P5 is the perfect partner for iPod and iPhones. Zeppelin and Zeppelin Mini will also be on the stand, as will the all-new Jaguar XJ featuring the Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound System. All these products and more can be found at the Bowers & Wilkins stand at CES 2010, in the Central Hall, Booth # 13226.

Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 is available from January 2010.

source: www.bowers-wilkins.com

www.bowers-wilkins.com

EMP $395 VT-40.2 Tube Hybrid Amplifier & CS100 Bookshelf Speakers

The EMP $595 integrated amp and bookshelf speaker combo has been making waves around home auido world.  The amp is aimed at making MP3s and Streaming music for your desktop sound as good as possible.

Now EMP has lowered the price and is offering a perfect unit for the audiophile college student or someone on a bit more of a budget.  EMP is offering the same Vt-40.2 integrated amp, with tube and cool blue back lights, and now the new CS100 bookshelf speaker.  This will make a perfect gift for a gen-x’er who is showing interest in hi-fi or for your office.

From EMP -

Offered exclusively through EMP Tek by RB Hassing, president of EMP Tek. The CS100 Compact speakers are the perfect answer for “space challenged” rooms. These speakers may be compact in size, but there is nothing compact about their sound. Using a 4-inch aluminum fiberglass matrix woofer and a 1-inch nano-silk dome tweeter, the CS100 provides crystal clear sound for music or home theater. These speakers have been paired with our integrated tube hybrid amplifier for an excellent small compact stereo system. An iPod or MP3 player can be plugged into the amplifier for hours of musical enjoyment. The low distortion characteristics of the speaker combined with the absence of odd order harmonic distortion in the tube amplifier produce a sweet, pure and extremely accurate sound.

This system is even better enhanced by adding the E10s Subwoofer, sold separately.

System consists of:
• (1) Pair of CS100 Bookshelf Speakers
• (1) One VT-40.2 Tube Hybrid Amplifier

- link

source: Daren B. Egan

Company’s Second Integrated Offering Boasts Low-Noise Super-Symmetry Circuit, User-Friendly Operation, and Clean, Clear, Transparent Performance

CES 2010, LAS VEGAS, Nov. 9, 2009 — Pass Laboratories, Inc., an audio innovator renowned for its unique high-performance products, will introduce the INT-30A Integrated Amplifier at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, in January. The no-nonsense, user-friendly amplifier delivers outstanding performance and a high level of user satisfaction, exposing today’s audiophile products to a broader spectrum of demanding consumers.

The INT-30A is Pass Labs’ second integrated amplifier, a 30-watt Class A version of its INT-150 Integrated Amplifier, and based on the XA30.5 Stereo Amplifier. It combines the space-saving benefits of an integrated amplifier with the sonic performance of Pass Labs’ superb XA.5 Series of Class A amps, which includes Pass’ patented Super-Symmetry™ circuit.

The INT-30A is rated at 30 watts-per-channel into 8 ohms, and 60 watts into 4 ohms. It boasts an excellent dynamic range and fast response. Designed to bridge the gap between high-end audiophile components and simple, user-friendly audio products, it moves easily from a black background to explosive transients, presenting recorded materials with a sense of realism and authenticity. Regardless of loudspeaker load, the INT-30A performs with stability and authority, delivering clean, expansive sound at an affordable price.

read more about the INT-30A at hometoys.com…

source: hometoys.com

www.passlabs.com

The first ‘audiophile’ dock for iPod worthy of the name, returns in a universal design with a remote handset and performance improvements - use with Arcam Solo and AV components for info displays and intelligent integration, or any with Hi-fi or AV system as a stand-alone dock.

In 2007 Arcam’s rDock set new performance standards for an affordable iPod dock and went on to become a best-seller. The popularity of the rDock has encouraged Arcam produce an even more advanced version as a follow up. The new irDock allows anybody with any Hi-fi or Home Cinema system, irrespective of age or manufacturer, to enjoy iPod or iPhone music with superb quality. For Arcam owners, the irDock integrates totally and intelligently with all Solo systems, Arcam’s latest AV receivers and the T32 DAB Tuner.

read more about Acram’s new irDock at HiddenWires.com…

source: HiddenWires.com

www.arcam.co.uk