Computer-driven audio

If you have missed it, pls. read an informative article in Positive Feedback about computer-driven audio, written by Steve Nugent from Empirical Audio.

Interesting new HE products

In recent HE-related shows some interesting blue-sky products have been announced. In Paris Salon Haute Fidelite 2005 Halcro exhibited the DM88 DM88 monoblocks. Details are sparse, so I've to re-visit on this issue later on.

London Hi-Fi & Home Entertainment Show had evidently very strong focus on 2-ch audio, and Mark Levinson chose venue to launch its No.51 Media Player. The No. 51 seems to be Red Book / DVD-V player, i.e. without SACD or DVD-A support. "It is designed to elevate the enjoyment of DVD-Videos and CDs to a remarkably high level.", according to ML Web-site. Curious segmentation choice, if I might say so.

Conrad-Johnson has further extended its pre-amp offerings, the latest is the CT6 pre-amp to complement the ACT2 and CT5 (see previous blog entry).

MAXX2 shell-shock continues

Since I listened to Wilson MAXX 2s some two weeks ago I've been under audio shell-shock. In other words, MAXXs redefined quite many aspects of the listening experience and seriously caused me to re-evaluate what hifi and reproduction of music represent.

The biggest revelation and key learning from listening MAXXs was redefinition of resolution. I've previously associated terms "transparency" and "resolution"mainly with higher and mid frequencies, yet MAXXs demonstrated that both terms are equally applicable to lower frequencies - and by doing so, they push re-production of music in domestic environment to utterly different direction. Same redefinition applies to soundstage, or in MAXX's case, lack of that artificial space. Actually last week-end I changed my listening position way backwards from speakers, and managed to achieve some of MAXX's "wholeness" magic with my Revel Studios.

Furthermore, I realized that regardless what tweaks, cables or other secondary components one insert into system, these investments pale beside purchasing top loudspeakers like MAXXs. I guess that puts me in "speakers first" corner in system hierarchy battle.

As Robert Harley in the Absolute Sound review of MAXX 2s said: "Once you hear the new-found resolution of bass detail, the stunning transient fidelity, and the unique combination of finesse and power ... there is simple no going back".