Hifi Pig

Pioneer Europe has unveiled eight new stereo components and new components complete Pioneer’s new stereo line-up, after the December ’11 introduction of its N-50 and N-30 network audio players. The new stereo components include the A-70, A-50, A-30 (pictured), A-20 and A-10 amplifiers, and the PD-50, PD-30, PD-10 SACD players.

Philippe Coppens, Technology and Product Information Manager at Pioneer Europe said “The top-of-the-line A-70 amplifier will be tuned according to exacting professional standards by the internationally respected AIR Studios in London. The AIR Studios quality seal is proof not only of the extraordinary engineering that has gone into these audio units, but also of the exceptionally high quality of their craftsmanship and carefully selected electronic components.”

The A-70 and A-50 amplifiers come equipped with high efficiency power MOS FET (Class D) amplification optimised for “pure sound reproduction.”

In addition, the AIR Studios tuned A-70 amplifier features ESS 192 Khz / 32 bit SABRE32DACs, and offers an integrated asynchronous USB DAC solution capable of handling 192 kHz / 32 bit sources More »

Naim has launched the NaimUniti 2, the successor to the NaimUniti, at the Munich High End show. This new edition of Naim’s original all-in-one player has a 70W per channel amplifier whereas the original had just 50W. It boasts a new CD player section with a new tray and transport and a new Burr Brown PCM1793 DAC.

Other design modifications are also said to improve the quality of the Uniti 2 including additional regulator lifting capacitors, a new lower load capacitance crystal within the clock, a lift to the Wi-Fi antenna and new rectifier diodes on the digital power supply..

The NaimUniti 2 comes fitted with 24bit/192kHz high-resolution streaming functionality as standard and inherits the larger front panel display window of its big brother the SuperUniti. The Uniti 2 comes complete with CD player, multi-format tuner (DAB/FM/Internet radio).high-resolution (up to 24bit/192kHz) digital stream player, iPod/iPhone/iPad dock, MP3/USB-stored audio player, digital to analogue converter and a 70W integrated amplifier.

Nagra, the Swiss company long associated with the Montreaux Jazz Festival, have announced, at the Munich High End show, that they will introduce the Nagra Jazz preamplifier. Giving the preamplifier a name is something of a departure for the company, but the same compact size as other Nagra preamplifiers such as the PL-L and PL-P is maintained.

More details as soon as we have them.

As part of KEF’s on going 50^th Anniversary celebrations, from 1^st May the company  will offer a free £50 voucher to anyone signing up to KEF’s weekly KEFTalk newsletter.

The free voucher can be used against any product in the brand’s online KEFStore on purchases over £300. All purchases are supplied by the nearest official KEF retailer to the consumer, a process that maintains the level of customer service and support that is expected.

Michael Johnson, Head of Marketing commented, ‘Having the ability to offer this type of initiative at this time, as our online store becomes more valued by our retail partners and consumers alike, will not only help us develop and grow our communications database but will offer consumers and KEF fans the crucial money- off incentive that is so valued in these tough economic conditions. This is something we’re very proud to offer, especially as it helps to celebrate our 50^th year.’

You can sign up at the KEF website.

This year at the Munich High End show Electrocompaniet will introduce a new product called ECI 6 DS.

The ECI 6 DS is an all-in-one music-system built around the125 wpc ECI 5 MK II integrated amplifier, it has a built in DAC and offers wireless streaming from your computer or other sources.

Digital sources like iPod/iPhone can be connected as well as blu-ray players, CD players and televisions and everything is controlled by the graphical remote control. Analogue sources can be connected by balanced XLR or unbalanced RCA inputs

The release is planned this summer and Electrocompaniet will present the ECI 6 DS in Atrium 3 C114 at the HighEnd show.

The estimated RRP of € 5.500 / £4.490.

Built in the US, Bel Canto’s latest offering is billed as a “Fine sounding, cool running, high-output, low power usage analogue and digital media centre.”

It is loaded with inputs including two 24/192 SPDIF, two 24/192 TOSLINK, one 24/96 USB, one MM phono and an analogue line level input. RCA out, Headphone out and speaker posts deal with getting signals out of the C7r.

Its power amplifier delivers 30amps and make it suitable for driving a wide variety of loudspeakers and you can connect pretty much anything to it –computer, CD player, turntable, TV receiver or games console…It even has an onboard FM tuner. More »

Linn, the manufacturer of the iconic LP12 turntable, have been awarded the prestigious accolade –  the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.  

Linn’s award in the Innovation category celebrates the success of the Scotland based company’s digital streaming technology- the Linn DS.

Approved by The Queen and following the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Queen’s Award for Innovation recognises the “engineering prowess and passion for music embodied within Linn’s industry-leading range of DS systems.”

Linn were awarded the Royal Warrant in 2002 as providers of entertainment systems to the Royal Household.

Linn’s Managing Director, Gilad Tiefenbrun had the following to say about the award “Innovation is at the heart of Linn. We designed our DS platform from scratch, starting in 2004, and launching our first product, the Klimax DS, in 2007. Klimax DS immediately set a new performance benchmark in home music systems. Since then, we’ve released a full range of DS systems across the price spectrum, with all of them playing everything from mp3 to 24-bit Studio Master and making the music sound better. Our most recent updates let you play music wirelessly from computers and mobile devices, stream online music and movies, and connect everything in the modern living room through your Linn system.”

To coincide with the 2012 London Olympics, the V&A Museum’s major Spring exhibition will showcase the best of British design and creative talent. ‘British Design 1948-2012:

Innovation in the Modern Age’, will highlight significant moments in the history of British Design. Included in this prestigious event is the Lecson Audio system created by the co-founders of Meridian Audio.

The Lecson Audio system was created in 1974, three years before Allen Boothroyd and Bob Stuart founded Meridian Audio.

One of the most innovative products of the 1970s in any field, the Lecson reinvented the

relationship between design and function. Before its release, hi-fi equipment was housed functionally. Regular grey boxes with knobs represented the height of artistic endeavour

and the aesthetic of hi-fi products remained unchanged for many years, that is, until the

Lecson.  More »