Cambridge Audio has expanded its
top-of-the-line Azur 840 series to include a preamplifier and power amplifier. The Azur
840E preamplifier features Cambridge-designed modules nicknamed "Terrapin"
instead of the usual op-amps. The
Azur 840W power amp is rated at 200Wpc into 8 ohms or 500Wpc in bridged mode. Both
products will be available in March, with the 840E retailing for $1299 and the 840W priced
at $2199.
Focal’s Dôme speaker system
features enclosures made of an aluminum alloy that the company says are nearly
indestructible. The satellites have a 5" polyglass midbass and 1" inverted-dome
aluminum-magnesium tweeter. Various grille colors are available. The
subwoofer has an 8" down-firing woofer with 100W BASH amplifier. The satellites
are available for $750 pair, or $1595 with the subwoofer. A full 5.1-channel system will
sell for $2595.
KEF has a new line of speakers
called the xQ with real-wood-veneer finishes, including mahogany, bird’s eye maple,
and cherry. The xQ 10 and xQ 20 bookshelf models are prices at $1400 and $1800 a pair
respectively. The xQ 30 floorstander is $1400 each, and the xQ 40 floorstander is $1700
each. A matching xQ 50 center-channel speaker is also available for $1200.
KEF also now distributes Musical
Fidelity electronics in North America. The A1008 CD player will retail for $6000 and has a
Philips top-loading mechanism. It is a 24-bit/192kHz upsampling player with separate
output stages for "Valve" and "Solid State" amplification.
Made of an electrically
conductive foam, the Shunyata Research Darkfield Cable Elevators are said to prevent the
build up of static charges in suspended cables by allowing the charge to migrate to the
floor. They also minimize the transmission of vibration from the floor to the cables. They
are priced at $99 for four, or $250 for 12. [www.shunyata.com]
A bipolar surround speaker is
nothing new, but Sunfire has developed a surround speaker that uses dual 6" ribbon
drivers and Neodymium magnets. The CRM-2BIP is an on-wall surround speaker designed to
complement Sunfire's Cinema Ribbon line of speakers. It also has a 4 1/2" woofer, but
is only 3 5/8" deep. An "Intelligent Tweeter Shaping" control is provided
to adjust the speaker’s high frequencies to the listener’s tastes. The speaker
will begin shipping in April for $1750 a pair.
Sunfire’s TGR-401 receiver
has seven channels of patented Tracking Downcoverter amplification rated at 150Wpc. It
also features three HDMI v1.3a inputs and 7.1-channel analog audio input for DVD-Audio or
SACD. Its Auto EQ feature allows manual adjustment of each channel pair for users who wish
to tweak its performance. It will begin shipping in April for $4000.
