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April news

AudioEnz is a hit!

AudioEnz has qualified for a Hitwise Top 10 Award for the quarter ending December 2005. During this period, the AudioEnz web site ranked No. 10 by visits in the “News and Media - Print category” against other New Zealand websites.

Densen enters New Zealand market

Danish hi-fi brand Densen Audio Technologies has a New Zealand distributor in Marquet Trading. The Densen range starts at $2599 for the B-110 integrated amp (pictured at right), and includes two integrated, two preamps and six power amps, two CD players and a tuner.

Linn Artikulats its top speakers

Artikulat is Linn's highest performing multi-channel loudspeaker system, combining “stunning audio quality with gorgeous design”, say Linn. The ARTIKULAT range features proprietary Linn technologies such as, Active Servo-Driven bass, the 3K Driver Array and the new Linn CHAKRA high-efficiency power amplification topology, presented in a highly rigid, natural laminate curved cabinet.
For your nearest Linn dealer

InFocus launch new projector

InFocus are in the process of revamping their projector line, with the first model, the IN72, replacing the 4805. The IN72, includes a Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing) chip-sets, enhanced with Pixelworks™ DNX video. The IN72 comes calibrated to D65 colour standards to ensure cinema quality colour reproduction, and includes an HDMI input. The IN72 retails for $3499 and will be available in April.

Centre channel speaker shelf

The Centre Channel Shelf from Omnimount is designed to sit atop the television to support the centre channel speaker in a home theatre system. The shelf will support up to 13.6kg and can also be used to support a DVD player or Sky box. Made from steel, the shelf has a scratch resistant powdercoat finish and is available in black or platinum. Distributed by Pudney & Lee, the Centre Channel Shelf is $149.

Interdyn launch three new brands

International Dynamics has been appointed the distribution of three new brands to compliment its existing portfolio.

Ad-notam is a German range of LCD panels, which convert to mirrors when in standby mode. This extensive range includes bathroom vanity mirrors with internal televisions; media centre furnishings incorporating large panel LCD televisions and promotional merchandising television sets

X-Screen is an active and passive range of front projection screens, which enables images to be viewed in high ambient light conditions. Available with an internal scaler, video switching, twin tuners and speaker system, this revolutionary product dismisses the myth of front projection being only for darkened rooms.

The renowned speaker component manufacturer Vifa has released an aesthetically stunning range of matched speakers and electronics. International Dynamics.

A lift for your plasma

Like to hide your plasma away and only see it when watching the telly? Gilkon have three models of plasma lifts that allow your plasma to be hidden in a cabinet until you want to see it. The left may be controlled by a wall switch, or via remote control.

Paradigm’s big bass from a small space

The UltraCube 10 from Canadian manufacturer Paradigm is less than 300mm in height, width or depth, and claims to reach down to 22Hz. A powerful class-D amplifier (650 Watts sustained, 1500 peak) drives a 250mm woofer built around a die-cast chassis, with twin 230mm passive radiators. The UltraCube 10 retails for $1899.
For your nearest Paradigm dealer

Zon multi-room

Zon is a 9-source, 4-zone distributed audio system with some interesting features. The Zon system uses all-digital signal routing for maximum audio fidelity (up to 200m runs). Unlike many systems, which need equipment to be in a central hub, sources can be located anywhere in the home. The keypads offer built-in 30+30 watt digital amplification and feature remote control, bass/treble and balance controls, 5-preset EQ, built-in mic for paging & baby monitoring. Prices start at $6,000 (for 4-zones)
For your nearest Zon dealer

Vutec distributed by TAGNZ

One of the world leaders in projection screen technology, Vutec screens are known for image quality, solid build quality and an extensive product range. Technical Audio Group New Zealand include the range from the innovative "Art Screen" designed to hide plasma screens with individual artwork to fully motorised multi aspect masking home theatre screens.

Vinyl playback: Origin Live, Whest Audio and Transfiguration

Sublime Audio now represent three companies involved with vinyl playback.
Origin Live from the UK produce a number of turntables and and tonearms. Origin Live also produce DC motors and power supplies, designed as upgrades for a wide variety of turntables. The company is perhaps best known for tonearm upgrades, particularly to the Rega RB250.

Whest Audio produce a very well reviewed phono stage. Sublime Audio are also distributing Tranfiguration cartridges.

Prima Luna affordable valve amplifiers

Prima Luna produce entry level tube amplifiers, designed in Denmark and built in China to rigorous standards. For anyone who thought tube amps were expensive, bulky and tricky to maintain due to biasing will love Prima Luna as they are self biasing, compact and very affordable. Sublime Audio

Dali’s IKON

DALI IKON range pf loudspeakers incorporates trickle down technology from DALI's higher range of the Euphonia and Helicon. The IKON range use a soft dome tweeter in conjunction with a ribbon tweeter. The IKON range starts at $3000 for the three way IKON 6. Sublime Audio

Gallo Reference updated

An update to the award-winning Gallo Reference speakers, the 3.1 is available at the end of this month. Featuring minimal crossover components and easy 8 ohm load along with Gallo's unique CDT planar tweeter. Gallo's bass/ crossover amp to power the speaker's second voice coil, extending low bass response to 22Hz without the addition of extra subwoofer boxes. The Gallo Reference 3.1 is $6390. Reference Audio

Zu high efficiency speakers

Just arrived at importer Reference Audio, Zu's Definition 1.5 joins Druid Mk4 loudspeakers. Wideband super-efficient, crossoverless speakers for tube or solid-state amps rated from 3 to 300 watts. The Zu Definition 1.5 (left, showing front and rear view) is $16,299 and Druid Mk4 (right) is $5,310.

A NuForce in amplfiers

NuForce's IA7 integrated amp combines the Reference 8's with their new P-8 preamp design in a compact chassis. Sharing a single 100w power supply to deliver 50 watts per channel into the most demanding loads. The IA7 features a pre-out to allow an easy upgrade path by bi-amping with cascading NuForce monoblock amps. The NuForce IA7 is $2,250 and is imported by Reference Audio.

Project’s newest turntable

Coming in under the established RPM6 model and replacing the RPM4, Project Audio’s RPM5 includes a minimalist plinth, mdf platter with cork mat and record clamp, plus Project’s carbon fibre armtube.

Retailing for $899, the RPM5 is distributed by International Dynamics.

No Ring Ring

No Ring Ring™ is the apt name for a new range of vibration damping rings for valves. Simon Brown from Kiwi Company Design Build Listen explains that all valves suffer from some level of microphony. Pre-amplifier valves in particular may benefit from some form of vibration damping, leading to noticeable improvements in sound quality. As valves get hot, No Ring Rings are made of an elastomeric material that is rated to 220°C so that it will continue its job for the life of the tube. No Ring Ring™ are available in three sizes to suit common tubes.

Modern valves

In recent years the initials NOS* applied to valves has often stood for ‘New-Old Scam’ as many inferior modern valves are relabeled as the old ‘classic’ makes. To avoid this Design Build Listen is now selling new stock valves to NZ enthusiasts from two top modern suppliers. Svetlana 'Winged C' valves (SED in the US) are famous for their quality and musicality. "Guitar Player Magazine" rated the Winged C 6L6GC as the best sounding new 6L6GC. Golden Dragon is an established brand created by English company P.M Components where they have selected valves for technical and musical ability from a variety of sources (Initially China but now from several Yugoslavian and Russian makers). P.M Components ensure there are stringent quality controls in place on the manufacture of these valves.

Open baffle for Jamo

Jamo’s R909 loudspeaker is a rarity – an open baffle moving coil loudspeaker. While the drivers are mounted on the front baffle, there is no box behind. The driver line up is also unusual. Two 380mm (15") paper pulp woofers complement the customised 150mm Seas midrange and a 25mm modified Scanspeak Revelator tweeter. The front baffle is 43mm thick with a complex 7-layer lacquered multi-ply construction, A heavy curved brace stops the baffle from flopping around.

The huge, newly developed bass drivers employ high quality open magnesium baskets plus lightweight paper cones with a polyurethane suspension. Employing a patented Seas Neodymium magnet arrangement, the midrange driver unit uses a magnesium cone for its stiffness and low weight, both vital qualities for dynamic response. The result is a cone that can deliver output up to 9kHz without sonic break-up.

The Jamo R909 is distributed by Wildash Audio. Pricing has yet to be finalized but is expected to be “more than twenty grand”.

Voice the key for Rega centre speaker

The R Vox centre speaker from Rega using matched proprietory drivers in a speaker designed to match Rega’s R-Series of speakers. Rega say that “the R Vox offers unusually even tonal balance throughout the full frequency range and gives unrivalled reproduction of the human voice, essential for accurate dialogue reproduction.” Distributed by NA Distributors, the rega R Vox retails for $625.
For your nearest Rega dealer

ProAc’s stand-mount

The Studio 110 is a new stand mounted design which replaces the Tablette 2000. The cabinet of the Studio 110 is slightly larger, very rigid and better damped. It houses a new bass driver and tweeter with front porting allowing for there use as rear surround speakers in a home cinema system, as well as being excellent two-channel speakers in there own right.

The Studio 110 strengths lie in a very rigid and well damped cabinet, a slim baffle with offset tweeter to aid dispersion and to match the other speakers in the Studio range. The bass driver is very similar to the ones used in the Studio 130 and Studio 140, this is loaded by a front mounted port, endowing the bass with a faster, cleaner and more powerful quality. The new 1” dome tweeter is the same as that used in the Studio 130 and Studio 140. The new drive units are seamlessly mated by a new high quality crossover network, which is split to allow for bi-wiring and bi-amping. Distributed by PQ Imports, the Studio 110 retails for $2295.
For your nearest ProAc dealer

Luxman back in New Zealand

Japanese hi-fi manufacturer Luxman is once again available in New Zealand. Broadside Marketing (phone 021-119 6365) have been appointed agents for Luxman in New Zealand.

European DLP projectors from Projectdesign

Projectiondesign, a Norwegian manufacturer of single chip DLP projectors will be shipping their new 1080p projector from the beginning of April.

Projectiondesign say that the Action III 1080 is the world’s first true HDTV single chip DLP front projector, using the new 0.95” 1080p DMD™ by Texas Instruments, allowing uncompressed, 1920 x 1080 resolution HDTV. The Action III 1080 retails for $47,880. Other Projectdesign models include the Action II for $11,399 and the Model III for $29,754. Projectdesign projectors are now distributed by Amber Technology.