25
Nov
2011
Gizmag: The smartphone has quickly become an essential part of modern living. It’s a powerful portable computer, a high resolution camera, and a mobile communications center. However, if you’re of the school who thinks that just because such a device can also play music, there’s no need to spend good money on a separate audio player – the Colorfly Pocket Hi-Fi C4 pro may well be the dedicated music player to change your mind. (more…)
04
Nov
2011
Pocket-Lint: If it’s confusing bad grammar and expensive Hi-Fi setup that you’re after then you’ve come to the right place, because Germany’s largest loudspeaker company, Canton, has just announced the your_Duo system and we’re here to tell you all about it. (more…)
15
Jul
2011
Akihabaranews: Introduced in September 2010 in white only the RCD-N7, a CD player with integrated Wi-Fi and AirPlay support (more here after the jump) is now also available in Japan in black. Both the White version and Black version are technically identical and comes as well with DLNA 1.5 support and iPod/iPhone support.
This new Black RCD-N7 will be sold in Japan within a few weeks at around 55,000 Yen.
21
Jun
2011
What Hi-fi: TEAC has announced the latest incarnation of its Reference series of hi-fi products.
First out of the blocks are the CR-H700 CD receiver, complete with support for AirPlay, DLNA and USB playback, and the UD-H01 DAC with USB interface.
The UD-H01 will be joined by a family of products with the same, diminuitive dimensions, and each specialising in CD playback, PC audio, streaming and more. (more…)
09
Jun
2011
Akihabaranews: Onkyo is the Japanese most favorite brand, at least for the general public, when it comes to High-End Audio products and I can’t agree more! Today Onkyo released new FR Series compact Hi-Fi with the X-N7NX. This new CD/MD and USB Compact Hi-Fi also comes with an AM/FM Radio tuner and is fully compatible with both Apple’s iPod/iPhone products as well as Onkyo’s ND-S1 Digital Media Transport that will give you also give access to your PC to your X-N7NX audio capabilities via USB.
The X-N7NX is compatible with MP3 and WMA files stores on a USB Stick and comes with a 26Wx2ch (4Ω) output and should reach a Audio Store near you within the end of June at around 45,000 Yen.
10
May
2011
Akihabaranews: Here you are the ultimate all in one Audio and Video combo, the FX166. Just recently introduced in Europe and launched today in Japan, the FX166 comes with pretty much everything you need with maybe the exception of being capable to record videos on DVD and Blu-Ray. Anyway, the FX166 comes with a DVD/Blu-Ray video player with 3D Support, is iPod/iPhone compatible, a Radio Tuner, as well as the basic Radio/Alarm Clock functions.
The FX166 is also capable to access to both Music and Video stored an external drive of connected one (DLNA) and support both DviX and DviX HD videos!
07
Jan
2011
The Audiophiliac: Onkyo may be best-known for its receivers and home theater-in-a-box systems, but the company planted deep roots in audiophile-grade hi-fi in the 1970s. As I recall, Onkyo had more street cred among audiophiles than Sony or Pioneer in the days before home theater ruled the roost.
Today at CES in Las Vegas Onkyo will debut a new range of elite stereo hi-fi components, with a style reminiscent of the company’s classic models of the 1980s. All three components–the P-3000R preamplifier, M-5000R power amplifier, and C-7000R CD player–incorporate Onkyo’s new Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry (DIDRC), that is said to reduce noise by improving linearity and reducing distortion in the super high-frequency range, resulting in audio playback that is more faithful to the original source.
The P-3000R preamp accepts both analog and digital sources. A high-quality 32-bit Burr-Brown digital-to-analog converter is provided for each stereo channel to optimize audio performance. The M-5000R power amplifier’s large analog meters evoke the look of Onkyo’s classic M-405 amp from the 1980s. While the 8-ohm FTC power rating is a conservative 80 watts, the amplifier’s ample current output should allow it to drive even the most demanding loudspeakers to high levels. Eighty watts may not seem like much, but the M-5000R can deliver over 450 watts into 1 ohm speaker loads. A high-grade XLR input offers the possibility of doubling power output with a second amp.
Rounding out the new lineup, the C-7000R CD Player features a thermally regulated, high-precision clock with a state-of-the-art crystal oscillator. The player’s analog and digital circuitry are physically separated and employ independent transformers for the analog and digital circuitry.
All three models will be available through select Onkyo dealers this month, with manufacturer’s suggested retail prices of $1,699 for the P-3000R pre-amplifier, $2,499 for the M-5000R power amplifier, and $1,499 for the C-7000R CD player.
Onkyo and most other receiver manufacturers still make stereo receivers; Onkyo models start with the $249 TX-8255 receiver.
17
Dec
2008
Tech Digest: Does anyone still use mini disks? If so, you will be pleased to hear that Onkyo has not forgotten about you.
They have embraced you with a big, warm hug along with the whole digital music public by featuring USB Direct Play in their latest FR-N9FX music system.
If you’re not familiar with this tech, it means you can play MP3s and WMAs directly from a USB stick or presumably an HDD packed full of billions of free downloads too.
The added bonus is that it also works the other way around; i.e. you can rip CDs or MDs onto your USB device. It even records radio as well.
04
Jul
2007
Unbeatable.co.uk: Looking like a 1990’s Mini Hi-fi system the Giga Juke is much more sophisticated as it provides the ability to store up to 40,000 tracks, which is 3,000 albums, on the massive 80GB hard disc drive. CD’s are copied at 16 times the speed which means that tracks can be copied in a few seconds or albums in about 4 minutes. A fantastic feature is that vinyl LP’s or tape cassettes can also be copied with the simple connection to another hi-fi. It can record from the radio and copy tracks for your portable music player and vice versa via the USB port, so there is no need for a PC connection. However, copying music from your PC is possible too. A great bonus feature is that a back-up can be made of all tracks to ensure your music history is secure forever.
A 4.3” screen will display your tracks by mood, genre, artist or even date they were saved and as the Giga Juke has data on the 350,000 top albums in the world it can display information to your on all your albums or add your own details if they are not already stored. Imported music files can be in the form of MP3, ATRAC and Linear PCM formats, which is the highest quality digital format.
High quality speakers and an ‘S-Master’ digital amplifier gives you 2 x 85 watts of hi-fi sound. The FM feature is an intelligent way of timing radio broadcasts and it will even edit out the DJ’s talk in between music. Clever, hey.
14
May
2007
Smarthouse News: iPod users are turning to classical music in droves with some analysts saying that the next big thing could be the return of quality two channel Hi Fi.
The iPod generation is becoming hooked on classical music with new figures in the UK revealing a huge surge in youngsters listening to radio station Classic FM.
Driven by the success of film scores for blockbuster movies like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and determined efforts to sex-up the classical music industry, a section of Britain’s youth appears to be tuning in to Mozart.
The surprising figures revealed in the latest set of radio results show half a million under 15s are now tuning in to Classic FM each week, overturning the conceived wisdom that classical music is something people predominantly turn to in older age.
Classic FM, which recently won the top award at Britain’s radio oscars the Sony Radio Academy Awards last week, saw a massive 52 percent increase in the number of under 15 listeners on the previous quarter.
According to Nielsen SoundScan worldwide sales of classical music in 2006 was whopping 22.5 percent over 2005 however some purists are upset by the inclusion of such music as Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban (Josh Groban?!) and Il Divo, all of whom they say don’t really belong in a a classical music category.
Hip-hop was down (-20.7%), R&B was down (-18.4%), alternative was down (-9.2%), jazz was down (-8.3%)—soundtracks were up (+19%).
Classical racked up 19.4 million records sold, which had many media outlets crowing that classical is hot again. Really? Let’s put that in perspective: Total record sales for 2006 were 588.2 million—and 2006 was considered a dead year.