Engadget: Hope you’re ready to see the make believe world in a new dimension ’cause Samsung’s first Full HD 3D set is now shipping Stateside. Amazon shows a pair of 55-inch UN55C7000 TVs with 3D 240Hz motion technology in stock with a $3,299.99 price tag and free delivery.

Yeah, that’s a day earlier than expected but we doubt anyone’s complaining. Remember, you’ll still have to drop another $150 or so on the shutter glasses if you ever plan to flip the switch from 2D to 3D mode; something you might want to do when actual 3D content starts to arrive.

Update: Looks like Sears is shipping now as well, including the 46-inch UN46C7000 little brother for $2,600.

3D TV Samsung

What Hi-Fi: The Chord Company’s Crimson interconnect has long been a budget favourite around these parts – now the company is upgrading the cable with the arrival of CrimsonPlus.

Starting at £40 for a 1m stereo pair, the new cable features improved shielding – not only is each conductor in the twisted-pair configuration individually shielded, but there’s now an additional heavy-gauge foil shield over the whole assembly. A hard PVC layer provides the final outer protection.

The additional shielding is said to significantly reduce the noise floor, and also makes the cable even more suitable for use in long runs, for example between an amplifier and a subwoofer.

The cable is fitted with Chord’s own RCA plugs, hand-soldered in place, and uses the company’s pseudo-balanced configuration, in which matched conductors are used rather than a single main conductor with the shield providing the return.

The cable is available in a range of lengths, both with standard RCA plugs and DINs, and custom configurations can be made to order.

cable chord company

Pioneer invite you to the Sound Sessions, to surround your senses, take hold of your emotions and shatter your expectations.
Pioneer Sound Sessions give you the opportunity to explore the very best in home entertainment, encouraging personal interaction with the products and offerdemonstrations with the specialist Pioneer Home Product Team. Our team will explain how to create your optimum sound set up and help you appreciate sound as the artist intended.

Please bring personal music and audio content to your event for live testing and demonstration.

Dates and locations here.

demonstration pioneer

Stereophile: Almost every assumption you might make about Vienna Acoustics’ Klimt The Kiss loudspeaker by looking at it would be wrong. It is not a stand-mounted two-way loudspeaker. It’s a three-way, with a coincident tweeter-midrange. And that ain’t no stand—it’s an integral part of the speaker. It does not have a conventional cabinet—there are two separate enclosures, complete with micrometer control of both vertical and horizontal axes. And those sure aren’t plain-vanilla drive-units—they’re about as unique as they come.

When I say you, of course, I mean I. When I first saw The Kiss ($16,000/pair), when Vienna Acoustics debuted its newest addition to their Klimt series at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, I misidentified every one of those characteristics. Then I listened to the speakers—and that drew me in for a far more thorough examination.

Impressed by its performance before I was intrigued by its potential—it proved a fitting prelude to a Kiss.

Read more…

loudspeaker vienna acoustics

Naim today confirmed that the HDX app to control the Naim HDX Hard Disk Player is available from the Apple iTunes app store.

The HDX app, was designed and coded in-house by Naim’s software team.

The HDX app, which also controls the primary output of NaimNet Music Servers, was developed following customer feedback provided via Naim’s long-running and influential forum.

Naim’s HDX App allows you to control your HDX hard disk player remotely. With your music library at your fingertips, you can now sit back and take control. Browse and play any of the music stored on your HDX with the easy-to-use app.

hard disk player hdx iphone app Naim

What Hi-Fi: Fatman has added two new valve amps to its roster. The iTube 202 and iTube 302 will each come with a FatDock (and receiver) and will retail at £899 and £1149 respectively.

The FatDock enables wireless streaming from an iPod or iPhone to the amp, while the latter can of course also be used as part of a standard hi-fi system.

The 302’s Class AB Push Pull design releases 30 watts per channel, while the Class A Single Ended 202 (pictured) fires 20 watts per speaker.

Round the back of the FatDock you’ll find a 3.5mm input and a USB output, alongside the standard Apple docking connection, while a receiver, for connecting to your amp, and a remote are included, too.

The iTubes themselves have three pairs of RCA inputs, another 3.5mm input and a subwoofer out connection.

The Fatman iTube 202 and iTube 302 go on sale in the UK and Europe from April 2010 and will have suggested retail prices of £899 and £1149 respectively.

The above prices include the FatDock and a three year warranty.

docking station iPod valve amp