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Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 02 February 2020 02 February 2020

Chord Electronics Expands Ultima Amplifier Range

Following the success of the Ultima range of high-tech power amplifiers from specialist Chord Electronics, the company now takes the lessons learnt on those flagship product to the new Ultima 5 and Ultima 6 stereo power amplifiers.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 February 2020 01 February 2020

Rogers LS3/5a Classic Loudspeakers

When, in the early 1970s, the engineering team at Britain’s BBC network was tasked with producing a small, dependable, accurate and consistent reference loudspeaker for outside broadcasting audio monitoring, the Dudley Harwood and Spencer Hughes-led team (later of Harbeth and Spendor respectively) produced the archetypal LS3/5. Subsequently, a modification to the original spawned the ‘A’ version which became, simultaneously, the classic and iconic LS3/5a, a superb design that also inspired many licenced versions by major British brands (one of these being Rogers). Its production ran for many years but the diminutive monitor has been in hibernation since the late 1990s. That is until the recent re-emergence of the Rogers brand under a new and dynamic leadership. With new engineering ideologies and in-house manufacturing, the new Rogers entity is now offering a revitalisation of both the iconic LS3/5a and LS5/9 BBC monitors. Here, we embrace the opportunity of scrutinising the classic LS3/5a Classic mini-monitor.

Details: Written by Vedran Simunovic Vedran Simunovic; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 February 2020 01 February 2020

in-akustik Referenz LS-4004 & LS-2404 AIR Pure Silver Loudspeaker Cables

Many years ago I bought a pair of speaker cables that retailed for about $550 at their prime but were heavily discounted “for a quick sale”. Despite that, at the time I still thought that I paid a lot (yes, I can be rather mean about some things Hi-Fi!). What I got for my money were (and still are) copper cables, while in-akustik’s Referenz (Reference) speaker cables reviewed here are made of silver. The connectors on my cables are gold-plated, which is great, while in-akustik connectors are plated with rhodium, a much tougher material that forms highly stable low resistance contacts. The list goes on, but to cut the long story short, Reference cables strive to deliver the best possible electrical parameters to your Hi-Fi system with very few – if any – compromises. And they look great!

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 31 January 2020 31 January 2020

Linn LP12 ‘Majik’ Upgrades Offer

From February 1 until the end of March 2020, Linn’s Majik modular turntable, a descendant of the immortal LP12, is being offered in Australia with a range of upgrades at half price which can ultimately elevate it to flagship Akurate level.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 22 January 2020 22 January 2020

Bowers & Wilkins Has a Gift For You!

As part of a new local ‘Diamond Rewards’ promotion to kick-off 2020, Bowers & Wilkins Australia is offering a free gift with selected loudspeaker purchases.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 17 January 2020 17 January 2020

New Rega Research Ania Pro MC Cartridge

From UK analogue specialist Rega Research comes the new Ania Pro Moving Coil cartridge aimed to provide a solution across the company’s acclaimed Planar turntables.

Details: Written by Josh Givorshner Josh Givorshner; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 January 2020 15 January 2020

Magico A3 Loudspeakers

In the pursuit of the perfect loudspeaker design, audio engineers are faced with a number of imposing challenges. Obviously, careful thought must be devoted to the proper design of a driver complement, understanding the way in which those drivers, each manipulating or moving air within a given frequency range, will interact with one another in the final design. This complex interaction will in no small part also depend on the nature, components and execution of the crossover network and of course, the partnering or driving electronics (the amplifier) to which the speaker will be connected.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 07 January 2020 07 January 2020

Sennheiser Headphones Landing in Australia

In a concentrated launch at CES 2020, Sennheiser has announced the new HD 450BT full-featured headphone, a higher-specification partner to the HD 350BT also launched at the premier electronics and technology exhibition in Las Vegas.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 10 January 2020 10 January 2020

ELAC Upgrades Its Debut Series to Reference Level

ELAC’s highly acclaimed entry level Debut series sees substantial driver and enclosure improvements warranting a new appellation to ‘Reference’.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 06 January 2020 06 January 2020

Karan Acoustics Celebrates 30th Anniversary with New Master Collection

Reaching a three-decade milestone sees electronics specialist Karan Acoustics launching a celebratory 30^th Anniversary ‘Master Collection’ flagship product range.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Ed Comment Ed Comment; Published: 30 December 2019 30 December 2019

The SoundStage! Australia Products of the Year 2019 Awards

We’re counting down the hours and heralding the New Year with SoundStage! Australia’s Products of the Year 2019. This time, we’ve pushed the Awards virtual ceremony a little forward. Throughout 2019, our skilled Aussie writers carefully auditioned a wide variety of high-end audio. The gear reviewed reflects a microcosm of the ample gamut of product categories available in, what is effectively, a relatively small to medium-sized consumer market. Albeit a buoyant one, to be sure.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 December 2019 15 December 2019

Cary Audio SLI-100 Integrated Amplifier

Austere, stark, unembellished… yet aesthetically truthful, functionally honest. They’re the terms which came to my mind as I unboxed the matter-of-fact SLI-100 integrated amplifier from Cary Audio. The design seems non-superfluous, stripped of excess and devoid of unnecessary decoration. But with a purposeful, regimented functionality to provide music. Does the SLI-100 deliver on its direct, straightforward promise?