Amplifier

CES 2012 is over but coverage from the trade show certainly isn't. New from Griffin Technology is Twenty, an audio amplifier for Airport Express. Twenty will send digital audio from iTunes – wirelessly – to an existing set of speakers using an Airport Express wireless base station and Apple's AirPlay wireless audio/video protocol. Twenty does this by capturing the AirPlay stream, decoding it, and then sending the lossless, amplified sound through speakers. Cool, huh?

Twenty boasts a zero-configuration audio set-up that streams Apple Lossless sound from iTunes or any other AirPlay-enabled app (Pandora, Spotify, last.fm, etc.) to the your speakers via a low-profile digital amplifier. It features a 2.1 channel sound system with 20 watts output per channel and also supports a powered subwoofer with an automatic active crossover at 80 Hz.

"The Griffin Twenty is the easiest, best-sounding solution for consumers who have speakers that are not AirPlay-enabled but still want to stream high-fidelity audio wirelessly," said Mark Rowan, President of Griffin Technology. "Not only can users stream from their iTunes library, they can easily connect with any AirPlay-enabled iOS device."Read more

Back in October, McIntosh unveiled the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition MC275 tube power amplifier, in celebration of the amplifier's 50th birthday. We're happy to say that this week at CES, McIntosh announced that the Limited Edition model is now available.

Featuring a gold-toned chassis, the Limited Edition MC275 has the same tube circuit design of the original, but adds several advanced features including a multi-colored LED display to indicate different levels of activity, as well as a new High Speed Sentry Monitor circuit that automatically turns the amp off if a tube wears out. When the tube is replaced, normal operation is restored. In addition, the Limited Edition MC275 is equipped with Power Control input and output, so on-off operation can be controlled by a simple cable connection to any McIntosh preamp or processor.Read more

You'll soon be able to get HARMAN's Lexicon DD-8 Multi-Room Power Amplifier in a black finish version, the company announced on Thursday.

The Lexicon DD-8 Multi-Room Amplifier is an eight-channel amplifier that delivers a whopping 1,000 watts of power (125 watts into each of its eight channels) from a design that measures just 2.1 inches high by 17.3 inches wide by 14.9 inches deep and weighs only 9.2lbs. All that power from such a small chassis is made possible by HARMAN's DriveCore amplifier IC chip (co-developed with Texas Instruments) which incorporates an unprecedented level of component integration into an IC that is smaller than a postage stamp.

"The wide adaptation in custom installation applications and multiple accolades of the Lexicon DD-8 are confirmation of the sonic integrity of this amplifier," said Jim Garrett, Senior Manager, Marketing HARMAN Luxury Audio Group. "We felt the addition of another color is another tool in continuing to provide our dealers with the most complete array of options available."Read more

McIntosh's MC275 Amplifier just turned 50 and to celebrate, the company announced the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition McIntosh MC275 tube power amplifier.

Featuring a gold-toned chassis, the Limited Edition MC275 has the same tube circuit design of the original, but adds several advanced features including a multi-colored LED display to indicate different levels of activity, as well as a new High Speed Sentry Monitor circuit that automatically turns the amp off if a tube wears out. When the tube is replaced, normal operation is restored. In addition, the Limited Edition MC275 is equipped with Power Control input and output, so on-off operation can be controlled by a simple cable connection to any McIntosh preamp or processor.

McIntosh Global Vice President for Sales & Marketing Linda Passaro noted: "In 1961, McIntosh reinvented the art and science of quality music reproduction with the debut of its original MC275 tube power amplifier. Since then, this legendary amp has continued to evolve, and set new standards for quality, musicality and reliability. Amazingly, even after 50 years, many of the very first MC275 amps are still in use and prized by their owners today. Our new Limited Edition amp celebrates the original for everything it is – and everything it has meant to generations of McIntosh customers for 'bringing their music to life.' This is truly a golden anniversary for the MC275, and years from now, music lovers who purchase a Limited Edition model will still be enjoying their investment in great sound!"Read more

Big news for HARMAN – the company's Lexicon DD-8 multi-room power amplifier was honored with not one, but three awards - Best Power Amplifier Resi Award from Residential Systems, CEDIA Manufacturers' Excellence Awards for Best New Product and Sustainable Lifestyle Product Innovation.

Lexicon was the only manufacturer to receive three industry awards for a single product at CEDIA 2011 and the sole winner of the Sustainable Lifestyle Innovation, recognizing the environmental friendly element of the product.

The Lexicon DD-8 Multi-Room Amplifier is an eight-channel amplifier that delivers a whopping 1,000 watts of power (125 watts into each of its eight channels) from a design that measures just 1.7" H (one rack space) x 17.3" W x 14.9" D and weighs only 9.2lbs. All that power from such a small chassis is made possible by Harman's new DriveCore amplifier IC chip (co-developed with Texas Instruments) which incorporates an unprecedented level of component integration into an IC that is smaller than a postage stamp.Read more

On display at CEDIA this week are two of Onkyo's newest hi-fi components - the A-9070 Integrated Stereo Amplifier and C-7070 CD player. In typical Onkyo fashion, both offer state-of-the-art design, rugged engineering, a variety of connectivity options, and sound pure enough to please discerning audiophiles.

Onkyo's A-9070 Integrated Stereo Amplifier has four discrete modes—integrated amp, poweramp, pre-amp, and split power/pre-amp—offering flexibility when incorporating other components into your hi-fi system. Alone, it provides ample power with a parallel push-pull amplification design, three-stage inverted Darlington circuitry, dedicated Wolfson 192 kHz/24-bit DACs for symmetrically designed L/R channels, and four large 15,000 µF capacitors.

In addition, the unit features DIDRC (Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry), along with closed ground-loop circuits and vibration-damping construction combine for clear sound across a wide dynamic range. The A-9070 also has an independent headphone amplifier, a phonograph equalizer, and gold-plated audio terminals/speaker posts.Read more

One glance at a Krell amplifier and you know it's not for the "budget" consumer. Krell oozes luxury with its elegant silver (or black) brushed anodized Aluminum casing and faceplate. The company's Evolution e Series – priced as high as $24,000 - has been deemed "the best" from media outlets and high-end audiophiles worldwide. Now Krell has two new power amplifiers in the Evolution e Series that deliver the same outstanding performance, but at a lower price – the Evolution 2250e and the Evolution 3250e.

The smallest amplifiers in the Evolution e Series, both amplifiers have a 4U (7" High) profile and feature a massive 2,500 VA power transformer, power output of 250 W per channel into 8 ohms and 500 W per channel into 4 ohms, along with Krell Current Mode circuitry. Simply put - the Evolution 2250e and 3250e amplifiers deliver the high-end performance usually found on amplifiers costing considerably more.

But just because they're powerful, it doesn't mean the amplifiers consume a great amount of power. Just the opposite. With a new energy efficient standby mode, the Evolution 2250e and 3250e use only 2W of power while in standby mode - a 99% reduction in electrical usage! Read more

Are you reminiscent of the 80's? This week at CES, Onkyo is unveiling new hi-fi components that bring back the style of the company's classic stereo models of the 1980's. There are three models; the P-3000R pre-amplifier, M-5000R power amplifier, and C-7000R CD player.

The new models feature Onkyo's new Dynamic Intermodulation Distortion Reduction Circuitry (DIDRC) which counteracts unwanted high-frequency interference. The company says that "Frequencies above 100 kHz are susceptible to clock pulses and other forms of distortion from digital devices. Such distortion in the super-high frequency range can generate "beat interference," which in turn affects the character or atmosphere of the original sound. DIDRC works 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."Read more

Denon announced on Tuesday that its special-edition Anniversary Product Collection (A100) is now available at select Special Anniversary Denon dealers. Go to www.denon100.com/dealerlocator to find a location near you.

Denon's A100 products include:

• PMA-A100 Integrated Amplifier ($2,499)
• DCD-A100 CD/SACD Player ($2,499)
• DP-A100 Direct-Drive Turntable ($2,499)
• DL-A100 Cartridge ($499)
• AVR-A100 9.2 Channel A/V Receiver ($2,499)
• DBP-A100 Universal Blu-ray Player ($2,499)
• AH-A100 Over-Ear Headphones ($499)

All Denon A100 anniversary products come in a special carton with, for the first time in Denon's history, a five-year warranty and signed certificate of authenticity from the chief Denon production engineer who handcrafted the product. Also included is a Denon "brand book" that explores the company's history.Read more

Audiophiles interested in high-end amplifiers will want to read on. Krell's Evolution 400e mono power amplifier has it all – power, refined fidelity, and an elegant look. But that's not all. Those who know high-end audio know that Krell pursues perfection in every product it manufactures. This is apparent in the Evolution 400e with its sophisticated circuit topologies and improved dynamic performance.

The 400e is Krell's most compact amplifier in the Evolution Series, but don't let its size fool you, this baby is equipped with a 4,000 VA transformer and delivers 400 watt output into 8 Ohms, 800 watts into 4 Ohms, and 1,600 watts into 2 Ohms. An additional transformer is also included, which powers the amplifier's new energy efficient standby mode. Standby power draw has been cut from 150W to 2W –that is a whopping 99% reduction in electrical usage! The power supply circuitry has also been redesigned and upgraded in the 400e, along with enhancements in audio circuitry. Read more