Latest News – page 12

Technical Audio Devices Laboratories has introduced the TAD-M2500TX stereo power amplifier – the device sports a completely rethought circuit design, uses upgraded power transformers and a redesigned machined aluminum chassis (machined from a 90 kg solid block of aluminum).

A very powerful (2 x 400 W into 8 Ohm and 2 x 400 W into 4 Ohm loudspeakers) integrated amplifier JAVA HI-FI Carbon Double Shot is presented. The model uses a fully balanced dual-mono configuration with an LDR pre-amp stage and GaN FET power amp stage.

Swiss audio manufacturer Revox releases reincarnations of its most famous reel-to-reel tape recorders, for example, the Revox B77 MK III. But today we are in for a truly impressive new product - the company presented the result of cooperation with Alice Cooper himself, the Revox B77 MK III Alice Cooper Edition. The model is released in a limited edition of 25 copies at a price of 27,000 euros.

The Danish company Gryphon Audio, known for its reference High-End amplifiers and other equipment, has released its first MC-cartridge for vinyl record players for the first time in 40 years. The pickup took the basic design from the Ortofon MC Diamond – but Gryphon Audio specialists made significant changes.

The Wattson Audio Madison AMPLIFIER integrated amplifier is presented – created in cooperation with CH Precision. The model has an input impedance of 100 kOhms and operates in the widest frequency band from 1 to 400,000 Hz. With a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio and distortion of less than 0.05%, the output power reaches 2 x 50 W per 8 ohm speaker and increases to 2 x 100 W per 2 ohm load.

The SME Model 35 turntable replaces the Model 30 in the company’s lineup; the expensive unit (priced at £35,999 in black or silver, or £37,999 in Midnight and Gunmetal anodised finishes) features a radically redesigned suspension – now using a three- columns design with upgraded vibration-decoupling feet.

SME has unveiled its new Model 8 turntable, which the company says is an “entry ticket” into high-quality analogue sound (available in white, navy or black, with an SME Series 309 tonearm, it will retail for £9,999).

HarmonicDyne has released new wired headphones HarmonicDyne BAROQUE – the model uses large-sized 60 mm dynamic drivers with a metal-ceramic diaphragm. This approach simultaneously minimizes distortion, providing an ideal piston stroke, and guarantees a fast dynamic response.

The ONIX Zenith XST20 SACD/CD transport has been unveiled, offering what the company claims is the unique ability to play any SACD disc in true DSD quality with any compatible external DAC. The ONIX Zenith XST20 is the start of a new signature product series that will soon consist of three corresponding desktop components, with a digital-to-analog converter and a network streamer to follow soon.

French company Jadis presented the first DAC of a new range, Jadis JS5 - a dual-block digital-to-analog converter of the highest echelon, using a tubes (four dual triodes in the signal path, as well as two pentodes for controlling an external power supply - 2 x ECC82, 2 x ECC88, 1 x EL84 and 1 x EF86).

Soulnote M-3X is a new monoblock power amplifier from a famous Japanese company. The model will replace the Soulnote M-3 amplifier and will offer twice as much current (a 1,600 VA power transformer is used), which will provide significantly better control of the acoustics.

At the upcoming AXPONA show (April 11-13, 2025) in Schaumberg, IL, Audio Research will introduce six new audio components that represent the culmination of 55 years of experience.

Japanese corporation Accuphase has introduced a powerful but compact integrated amplifier Accuphase E-3000 – the new model will replace the E-280 in the company's model range.

In the “golden age” of audio, turntables with automatic mechanisms, when the user only had to put the record on and press a button, the automation did the rest, became the standard. During the vinyl renaissance of the 21st century, attention was focused on sound quality – so automatic mechanisms fell by the wayside. However, now we are seeing the response of automatic turntables at a new level of sound quality – and one of them, the just presented Pro-Ject AUTOMAT A1.2.

Klipsch KLIPSCHORN are one of the most "long-lived" speaker systems on the modern market - they have been produced for more than 75 years. Well, let's meet the new version of the legendary speakers - Klipsch KLIPSCHORN AK7.

The original Klipsch LA SCALA loudspeakers were released in 1963 – the model has remained in production for years and has earned a truly cult status. Well, meet the new version of the Klipsch LA SCALA AL6 – for the first time in many years, it uses a vented box design and significantly expands the depth of the bass.

Rega has introduced the seventh generation of the Brio series integrated amplifier - Rega Brio Mk7. The amp, like its predecessors, is housed in a compact case and offers a power of 2 x 50 W at 8 Ohm load or 2 x 73 W at 6 Ohm. "On board" along with a headphone amplifier (with a 3.5 mm minijack post) and a phono preamplifier for working with both moving magnet (MM) and moving coil (MC) pickup cartridges, a digital-to-analog converter module has also appeared.

Audio-Technica has introduced a limited edition of the ATH-CKS50TW2 TWS headphones, designed based on the Star Wars universe. Users are offered stylized versions in the style of the droid R2-D2, the characters Grogu and Mando from the Mandalorian series, and Darth Vader. The technical specifications remain unchanged, but the owners of the headphones now have the opportunity to customize alerts that play unique sounds from Star Wars corresponding to a particular character.

The tube stereo power amplifier Pearl Acoustics 170 SE should go on sale only at the end of 2025 – but the veil of secrecy over the device has already been lifted. We are waiting for a dual mono, single ended design power amp with 0 dB global feedback. The device is based on the inexpensive PSVANE "Horizon" KT150 tubes – which delivers excellent holography, as well as good bass and detail without a significant loss in output power.

The Swiss company Nagra has introduced a new phono preamplifier, the Nagra Compact Phono, offered for a relatively modest price of $4,950 by the company’s standards. The model, housed in a miniature aluminum vibration-controlled case, offers the highest performance and uses circuitry with the shortest signal path to achieve ideal MC correction.