Hasta La Gadget!

Analog may be king for audiophiles, but digital is the future, friends, and Sennheiser knows it. That’s why it built the HDVD 800 digital headphone amplifier to improve the sound of your digital tunes, and now stateside listeners can finally get their mitts on the thing. That’s right, folks, a year after it was revealed across the pond alongside its analog brother, Senn’s digital offering’s finally available in the US for just a nickel less than two grand. Folks looking to part with the necessary cash to improve their listening pleasure can do so at the company’s online storefront linked below.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

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Source: Sennheiser

Sony is releasing 3 new multi channel integrated amplifier models: STR-DN1040, STR-DN840 and STR-DH740.

“STR-DN1040″ and “STR-DN840″ have Wi-Fi, cable LAN, Bluetooth, Airplay, and USB terminal built-in. “STR-DN1040″ has an MHL compliant HDMI terminal. By connecting an MHL compliant mobile device with a dedicated cable, you can play a movie or photos, etc. saved in the mobile device on a TV screen with full HD (1080p) and maximum 192kHz 24bit 7.1ch high quality sound.

All models have Sony’s unique technology “D.C.A.C.” (Digital Cinema Auto Calibration) that measures acoustic characteristics in a room and corrects and maximizes them.

All models feature newly-developed “Linear large-bandwidth power amp” technology and make 20% wider bandwidth than in previous models.

STR-DN1040
Release date: July 20
Price: 68,250 yen

STR-DN840
Release date: June 25
Price: 54,600 yen

STR-DH740
Release date: June 10
Price: 42,000 yen

Pioneer is releasing 2 audio amplifier models: VSA-1123 and VSA-823. Responding to the increased demand for 4K compliant products, these new audio amplifiers are compatible with 4K.

Regarding maximum output power, VSA-1123 is 180W/ch and VSA-823 is 160W/ch. VSA-1123 has 8 input/2 output HDMI terminals and VSA-823 has 6 input/1 output.

They are compatible with high-resolution audio types such as WAV, FLAC, AIDD and Apple Lossless, and feature Airplay, MHL and USB connections.

Through a dedicated application, the amplifiers can be controlled through iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

VSA-1123
Price: 88,000 yen
Size: 435 × 168 × 362.5mm
Weight: 9.8kg

VSA-823
Price: 56,000 yen
Size: 435 × 168 × 331.5mm
Weight: 8.6kg

At the start of NAMM 2013, Roland announced two new models in its Cube line and an iOS app to complete the trio. Both the Cube Lite and Cube Lite Monitor are on display in all of their dual-connecting glory, but we’re far more interested in the former for its guitar amp wares. The 10W compact unit touts built-in JC Clean, Crunch and Extreme tones alongside Chorus and Reverb controls. We were pleasantly surprised with how well these on-board sounds came across at the strings of a Stratocaster during the booth demos we witnessed. Usually included presets can be really hit or miss, but these are quite serviceable — especially in a portable unit. As you might expect, all of the usual controls are here including volume, treble, bass and drive and the requisite 1/4-inch input graces the backside. That’s all quite nice, but the real story here is the iOS software and aux connectivity.

That iOS app, Cube Jam, allows you to record and play along with tunes from your iDevice and connects via the i-Cube Link stereo auxiliary input from the headphone jack of a slate or handset. We were a bit disappointed that the connection didn’t come at the hands of a 30-pin jack or Lightning port, but overall the unit worked quite nicely in our limited time with it. The separate volume control for the aux port is quite nice and allows the user to adjust levels of the amp and the accompanying track independently to keep things just so. We’d surmize that you’d be able to connect an Android, BB10 or WP8 device for playback, if you’re willing give up the Cube Jam software. Cube Lite also requires a tethered power supply and doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity like we saw on the iLoud from IK Multimedia. If you don’t have a need for the guitar functionality, the Cube Lite Monitor wields the same 1/8-inch input, but offers stereo 1/4-inch jacks instead and tosses the in-built tones. Head on past the break for a quick tour and a closer look awaits in the gallery just below.

James Trew contributed to this report.

Filed under: Misc

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Source: Roland, iTunes

Japanese manufacturers, including electronics manufacturers are world leaders in the push for more eco-friendly products. We have been impressed with the various products being released in the Japanese market that use less electricity, have less emissions, etc.
Now, Pioneer has announced that its popular SC-LX85 amplifier/receiver is certified as low-carbon, low-emissions. They are branding it as the “Low CO2 Kawasaki Brand”.
This will continue to be a trend in the development of …