- My Dream System! MBL, Chord, Esoteric, Velodyne, Etc
Yahoo! xxxooo!
- MBL 101E Radialstrahler's - Front Main
Newest version of MBL's top of the line "flagship" speaker in the sharp looking piano black finish! These speakers are just amazing used either in stereo mode with great music recordings, or as an integral part of a MBL surround sound 5.1 HT system! Here is what Stereophile said about these speakers in a recent review: "The 101E's had an effortlessness, openness, transient clarity, and crystallinity that set them apart from all others I've heardincluding electrostats. On a congested recording such as the Rolling Stones' Exile On Main St. (LP, German EMI Electrola pressing), the mbls separated out the instrumental strands with unusual ease, and portrayed the strummed acoustic guitars with a visceral believability I'd never before experienced. Lesser speakers bury Ian Stewart's piano throughout the album's four sides, and while that hasn't happened with any of the gear reviewed here over the past five years, never has that piano popped as cleanly as it did through the 101Es. Mick Jagger's vocals on much of this set are purposefully recessed, but what the mbls managed to do was place his voice in the most convincing three-dimensional backdrop I've yet heard from this recording!"
- MBL 121's - Rear Surrounds
These are a brand new model from MBL that I am using for my rear surround speakers in my 5.1 system. Here is what MBL says about these speakers: mbl's revolutionary "Radialstrahler" system allows our new mbl 121 monitor to conjure up a three-dimensional sound field in your listening space, just like that found in a music venue. The "Radialstrahler" concept is, in theory, simple, yet ingenious: musical instruments and voices emit sound waves in all directions so we created a loudspeaker that radiates in all directions, not just to the front or rear, like more common designs. The critical tweeter and midrange drivers of the mbl 121 share technology with our legendary mbl 101 and 111 loudspeakers, which utilize a patented arrangement of hand-made curved stripes, or "petals," fixed vertically around an axis. A voice coil at the base and a counter bearing on the top keep the petals under tension upward and downward. When a musical impulse is transmitted from the amplifier to the speakers, the petals bend in proportion to the current and emit sound waves (this principle is also called "Bending Pulsar Driver," or B-Pulsar). The result is an outstanding three-dimensional and natural sound field, which in any direction remains undistorted, neutral, and homogenous just like the live musical event. In order keep the signal natural and musical, the numerous petals in the tweeter and midrange drivers are meticulously crafted of proprietary hand-made carbon-fiber materials; in the case of the tweeter, the petals are drawn from uni-directional carbon-fiber and in the midrange, they are drawn from cross-woven carbon fiber, all of which are compressed under high pressure and shape-hardened at an exact temperature. Successful installation of these ultra-thin (120 mm) petals demands absolute precision. An important design goal in the mbl 121 was to provide all of the beauty, magic, and sheer realism of it's larger siblings, while keeping the cabinet footprint compact and elegant. To achieve this goal, the mbl 121 utilizes several unique low-frequency implementations: 1. Passive Bass Crossover Network The mbl 121 uses a passive low-frequency crossover in order to provide: a: Increased bass output Typically, a compact cabinet results in reduced bass output. The passive matched crossover in the mbl 121 essentially doubles the effectiveness of the cabinet volume, which increases the overall low-frequency output. This crossover design allows the impedance reserve of the woofers to work in a push-push series connection. b: Suppression of subsonic information Below the tuning frequency of a vented box design, the excursion of the bass driver could take extreme dimensions, which easily could destroy it mechanically and distort its output. The mbl 121 uses a passive subsonic filter to eliminate any possibility of the lowest frequencies interfering with the driver operation, thus reducing unwanted (un-musical) distortions. 2. Psycho-Acoustically Aligned Energy Response The mbl 121 applies Psycho-acoustic principles to the woofer with counter compensation. This is achieved by: a: Increasing the bass group delay time By increasing the slew rate in the bass range of the mbl 121, the group delay time is increased, resulting in extended bass impulses. This allows low-frequency information to be perceived more fully and clearly. b: Incline of the energy curve We calculated the gradient of the acoustic energy in the mbl 121 so that it declines with 3 dB over 2 decades towards the higher frequencies. The result is an acoustic increase, which makes the relatively-compact enclosure sound acoustically larger. Special Features Found in the mbl 121's Bass/ Lower-Midrange Drivers: - Bass/ lower-midrange drivers in the mbl 121 are aligned in a push-push configuration, resulting in mutual power compensation; therefore, the cabinet is not stimulated mechanically to resonate. - Bass/ lower-midrange drivers in the mbl 121 utilize high temperature-tolerant aluminum voice coil carriers and aluminum membranes, which yield high load capacity, since the heat of the voice coil is led away to the membrane via the voice coil carrier. - Bass/ lower-midrange drivers in the mbl 121 utilize aluminum membranes with flanged edges which provide an absolutely deformation-free membrane surface resulting in zero-loss transmission of the mechanical movement of acoustic sound pressure. Technical Data: Impedance: 4 Ohm Efficiency: 81 dB @ (2.38 V/ 2 p) Frequency range: 49 Hz to 30,000 Hz Power handling: 280/ 400 Watt System: 3-way system Crossover type: Linkwitz-Riley 4th order (LKR4) High pass filter: Butterworth 5th order (QB5) Crossover frequencies: 600 Hz / 3.5 kHz Midrange low: Double push-push 2 x 140 mm (6.5 inch) Alu Midrange high: Radial MT50, CFK (mbl) Tweeter: Radial HT37Al, CFK (mbl) Finish: black, silver, veneer (Satin / Piano) Dimensions (W x D x H): 280 x 350 x 430 mm (H = 570mm with grille). 11 x 13.5 x 17.5 inches (H = 23 inches with grille). Weight: 20 kg, 44 lbs. each
- MBL 111RC - Center Channel
This is a brand new speaker from MBL designed to be a great center channel performer. It integrates perfectly with the rest of the MBL's in my system! Here is what MBL says about this dedicated center channel speaker: MBL developed this center as an ideal supplement to the mbl 101E, 111B and 121 Radialstrahler systems. Employing identical technology, but optimally tuned for reproduction with multichannel systems with regards to phasing and bass reproduction. The low frequency crossoverpoint of the mbl 111RC (80 Hz) satisfies THX requirements and smoothly harmonizes with most decoders on the market. Two force-balanced woofer/midrange speakers with 150 mm aluminium membranes execute even the hardest of audio attacs. The midrange/tweeter element, designed according to the radialstrahler principle, projects the sound in the ideal spherical manner. The transmission range extends up to 40,000 Hz, thereby particularly harmonizing with the new SACD or DVD media. This center enables you to lay down a high-quality foundation stone for excellent reproduction on several channels. Whether a three, five or seven-channel reproduction, the quality of the center is always of critical significance for the quality of multichannel systems. Music lovers are treated to a new dimension of listening, to an essential pleasure, to a supreme virtual reality. Even sophisticated home-cinema fans will be enchanted by the wide range of audibility with the ultimate linguistic clarity. No gaps appear between the center and the main speakers due to the Radialstrahler principle of spherical sound projection. You will be enamoured by this previously unheard-of homogeneity. Listeners are catapulted into performances of absolutely stunning realism, becoming totally immersed in events. Integration is so advanced, permitting you to invite all your friends to a cinema evening where absolutely everybody is ensured of a front row seat. Become inspired by the undreamt-of possibilities of this center!
The industry's first microprocessor-controlled, all-digital, High Gain Servo-controlled subwoofers with patent pending room equalization system. Velodyne has achieved digital perfection with the Digital Drive Series subwoofers. The series consists of 4 digital subwoofers the DD-10 (10 driver, 8 piston diameter), the DD-12 (12 driver, 9.7 piston diameter), the DD-15 (15 driver, 12.7 piston diameter), and the DD-18 (massive 18 driver, 15.2 piston diameter). The Digital Drive Series features Velodynes revolutionary Digital Drive room management technology that takes subwoofer room equalization to a new level. This latest Velodyne innovation allows the subwoofers frequency response in any room to be measured and digitally corrected in real-time using a supplied microphone, and stored in the units memory to assure ideal performance in the consumers listening area. Features Microprocessor controlled with Texas Instruments computer chip Digital Drive room equalization system Digital High Gain Servo system Four listening presets for action adventure, movies, rock pop, jazz classical Transformer-less Class-D digital energy recovery amplifier Dual tandem voice coil and Kevlar-reinforced cones
- Chord Electronics Ltd. - DSP 8000 Reference 7.1 Processor
This is a recently introduced piece in the Chord line-up that has all the options and even better and more important, sounds great. Here is what Chord says about it including what it can do and specs: The Chord DSP 8000 Audio Video Processor has been designed and tested to the highest standards to meet the performance levels expected of all Chord products. This product not only offers you a state of the art movie processor, but also an incredible musical performance whether it is in multi-channel or stereo. In order to do this the DSP 8000 hosts both a high quality on board analogue pre-amplifier and state of the art digital conversion. Supplied with this unit is the new Chord touch screen learning remote. It has the ability to operate up to 10 devices including any current and future Chord products. This ultimate multi-channel product's specification includes the very latest Motorola DSP chips and covers formats such as Pro Logic II, DTS & DTS ES, Neo 6, Dolby Digital EX, several music modes and Chord Cinema Equalisation (CEQ). The DSP 8000 is made to be fully upgradeable and future proof via RS232 connection and will form the control centre of many complex home entertainment installations with the extensive inputs and outputs available. As with all Chord products, the DSP 8000 is hand built to individual order. FORMATS & PROCESSING MODES - Automatic detection of the type of input signal applied - Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital EX - Dolby Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, Pro Logic II Cinema & Music - DTS 3/2.1 and DTS-ES Matrix - Neo 6, Neo 6 Cinema & Music - Several Music modes: Concert, Party, Music - Chord Cinema Equalisation - Advanced bass management system - Stereo 96 mode: 96kHz A/D for stereo analogue signals - Lipsync adjustment up to 100ms - Auto calibration via supplied capacitor microphone ANALOGUE AUDIO - 10 analogue audio inputs (RCA phono style connectors) - Tape loop (RCA phono style connectors) - 2 record outputs (RCA phono style connectors) - Zone audio output (RCA phono style connectors) - Analogue 7.1 input (RCA phono style connectors) - Analogue 7.1 output (RCA phono style connectors) - Analogue volume controller (Professional audio ALPS rotary encoder) - Analogue direct on 7.1 for SACD / DVDA BALANCED ANALOGUE AUDIO - Stereo balanced audio input (XLR connectors) - Bypass option for balanced stereo analogue input signals - Balanced 7.1 output (XLR connectors) DIGITAL AUDIO - 4 coaxial digital audio inputs (RCA phono style connectors) - 2 optical digital audio inputs (optical Toslink connectors) - AES/EBU digital audio output (XLR connector) - Optical digital audio output for use with digital recorders (optical Toslink connector CONTROL - RS232 port for software upgrades and connectivity with home control systems - 2 IR link ports - 3 DC trigger ports - Control via Chord system remote control and/or the new Chord learning remote control - New Chord learning remote control included: Touchscreen LCD - Programmable & learning, blue automatic backlight, 10 devices, built in battery charger & more - Full control also available via front panel controls VIDEO - Video switching for component video, composite video and S-video - Down-mix of S-Video input to composite output - 6 composite video inputs - Composite video record output - Composite video monitor output - Composite video zone output - Composite video monitor output without OSD (on screen display) - 6 S-Video inputs - S-Video monitor output with OSD - S-Video monitor output without OSD - S-Video record output - 3 component video inputs - Component video output FUTURE UPGRADES - Dolby Pro-Logic IIx DIMENSIONS - 480 x 180 x 450mm (w x h x d)
- Chord Electronics Ltd. - SPM 6000 Reference Mono Amplifiers
These babies are really something designed around three expensive 4 kilowatt high frequency switched mode power supply units derived from the aerospace industry! These Reference Mono Power Amplifier are conservatively rated at 750 and 1500 watts at 8 and 4 ohms, respectively! Here is what Chord says about them including what they can do and specs: The Chord SPM 6000 Mono power amplifier has been designed with the same no compromise philosophy as the Chord Flagship Reference Amplifier the SPM 12000. Following the styling of the SPM 12000 the SPM 6000 is the largest mono amplifier we have ever built with a performance that is truly spectacular. Standing 20cm tall and 66cm deep this amp delivers a performance comparable to the SPM 12000. The secret to this level of musical performance and dynamic ability is the power supply. High Frequency Power Supplies The heart of Chord's amplifier is based on technology directly evolved from the aerospace industry where incredibly high power outputs are demanded from very efficient designs in small spaces. Over twenty years of research and development have enabled us to complete our 5th generation of power supply. We are proud to be utilising spread spectrum, phased clocking, high frequency auxiliary and other advanced technologies, not normally found outside of the aerospace industry. The SPM6000 uses three of our 5th generation 4kW power supply units run in a parallel configuration but working individually. Advanced Design, Batch Manufacturing and Test Ultra high performance networked Silicon Graphics workstations, schematic capture; ASIC design, SPICE simulation, mechanical design and morphing are used to develop products, such as our latest version mono amplifier. All metal work goes directly from computer to metal cutting, as does the printed circuit board design. All our designs are proved with the very latest Audio-Precision System Two Cascade development test set, and our production testing is with the advanced Miller Audio Automatic Audio Test System. Product Specification Power Amp Section Output Power: 750W rms per channel @ 0.05% distortion into 8 Ohms 1500W rms per channel into 4 Ohms Dynamic Headroom: 850W rms per channel into 8 Ohms 1600W rms per channel into 4 Ohms Frequency Response: 3dB, 10Hz to 90Khz (8Ohms) Signal To Noise Ratio: Better than -103dB, 'A' weighted two thirds Output Impedance: 0.03 Ohms Output Inductance: 2.6mH Output Connections: 4 x gold plated high current WBT connections Slew rate: 70V per mS, 1kHz 20V square wave Gain: 30dB Stability: Unconditional Dimensions: 480mm (w) x 668mm (d) x 180mm (h) Weight: 40Kg The unit is supplied with 8 leg Integra as standard but can be specified with 12 leg Integra at extra cost. Product Specifications: Output Power 750 W RMS into 8 Ohms 1500 W RMS into 4 Ohms 3 Kilo W RMS into 2 Ohms Output Connections 4 x gold plated WBT output connectors Input Connections 2 x XLR balanced inputs 2 x RCA-Phono single ended inputs Dimensions (mm) 480(w) x 180(h) x 668(d) Weight 35 kg
- Chord Electronics Ltd. - SPM 1200C 2-channel Power Amps
I have two of these guys in my system, one is driving the rear surrounds and the second one is driving just my center channels. Here is what Chord says about these amps: The SPM 1200C has followed an evolutionary path that even Darwin would be proud of. With over 30% more power available than the SPM 1200B and much raised dynamic headroom, the SPM 1200C makes driving even the toughest loudspeakers, an effortless task. This amplifier achieves this by using the same improved high frequency power supply used by all of our "Enhanced" range of amplifiers. Improvements in capacitor technology have boosted secondary reservoir levels to 65,800µF storing over 266 Joules of energy. A "Superamp" in all but dimensions, this amplifier is for those whose goal is direct comparison between live and recorded music, a sentiment echoed by reviewer and customers alike. Product Specifications: Output Power 2 x 330 W RMS into 8 Ohms 2 x 550 W RMS into 4 Ohms 700 W RMS burst per channel into 4 Ohms Output Connections 8 x gold plated WBT output connectors Input Connections 2 x XLR balanced inputs 2 x RCA-Phono single ended inputs Dimensions (mm) 420(w) x 135(h) x 355(d) Weight 15 kg
- Esoteric - UX-1 Universal Disc Player
The UX-1 component devices, circuit configuration, and parts layout were all determined through a painstaking process aimed at maximizing the potential of the ultra-precise, highly rigid VRDS mechanism to provide a universal player with the worlds best image and sound quality. The UX-1 has all the features one would expect in a high-end universal player, including the ability to decode DTS96/24 format as well as Dolby Digital/DTS; a lip-sync function which corrects mistiming between audio and video; and a speaker configuration function which computes and adjusts the 5.1-channel surround sound installation environment. AUDIO OUTPUT A Burr-Brown 24-bit D/A converter is used as the audio D/A converter on all channels. In addition, a two-chip-per-channel differential configuration is used on the front L/R channels for improved linearity. A crystal oscillator is placed on the audio DAC board to suppress jitter, helping to ensure highly precise D/A conversion. Further jitter reduction is made possible by using the UX-1s master clock input with the Esoteric G-0s Rubidium master clock. VIDEO OUTPUT Usually, during progressive playback of a DVD video, there is an increased tendency for unnatural jaggies, or jagged image edges, to appear. To address this issue, the UX-1 incorporates a Faroudja chip for I/P conversion, using DCDi technology to enable capture of smooth, beautiful progressive video. The video D/A converter is the latest from Analog Devices-- 14-bit/216 MHz ADV7314. Audio sampling is done at 8x (interlaced) or 4x (progressive) to provide the highest quality in D/A conversion. This converter, combined with an NSV process that shifts noise components to unneeded bands to achieve a high S/N ratio, provides extremely high-resolution video images that are like finely detailed pictures. When an SACD or DVD disc is played, the higher-speed rotation causes increased and unwanted vibrations. These vibrations cause the disc surface to shake, making it difficult for the laser pick-up to read the data accurately. The VRDS turntable is designed to physically correct all vibrations and completely stabilize the disc so adverse effects during high-speed rotation can be minimized. High-speed rotation also necessitates that the spindle shaft be more rigid than in the past. The turntable, which may be considered the heart of the VRDS mechanism, is supported by high-precision, highly rigid mechanical components. A pair of precise ball bearings is used in the spindle shaft bearing unit and a pre-load is applied to the bearing inner rings to significantly reduce rattling and shaft shaking during use. This dramatically increases the precision of the bearing unit and greatly improves rotational and positioning accuracy. As a result, the correlation precision between the disc and pickup is improved--a factor which is closely related to transport performance. During SACD or DVD playback, the maximum rotation speed is some 4.5 times greater than the rotation speed during conventional CD playback. In order to ensure that the turntable could handle this high-speed rotation, TEAC selected magnesium as the turntable material. Magnesium, with a specific gravity two-thirds that of aluminum, is lightweight and has excellent vibration absorption properties that also helps reduce unwanted disc vibrations during disc rotation. The turntable is made from superior materials that are precision-machined. Massive bridge unit made from SS400 steel to support the turntable and spindle unit. The precision and rigidity improvements to the turntable and spindle alone will not ensure good results if the bridge supporting them is not also improved. Therefore, TEAC selected 20 mm-thick, SS400 steel for the newly designed support bridge. In addition, the bridge is directly joined to a 5 mm-thick iron base plate. Any vibrations originating from the spindle during rotation are subsequently attenuated by the mass of the bridge-base plate combination. The combined weight of these two pieces alone is over 8 pounds. TEAC has developed a new, long-life three-phase brushless spindle motor for high-speed rotation. Development of the magnetic circuit, consisting of a neodymium magnet, was completed through numerous tests and scientific validations, including magnetic field analysis. The optimized magnetic circuit minimizes rotation irregularities in the motor and makes it possible to reduce fluctuations in the motor drive current, thereby lessening any effects on audio circuits and other areas. Pickup drive sled/servo unit: TEAC developed an ingenious component structure for driving the pickup lens and a new sled structure to move the pickup unit with an extremely high level of accuracy. This new system ensures that the laser optical axis is always maintained at a constant relationship to the medias disc pits. This precision ensures the laser is always positioned at the very center of the pit track for optimal reading. These modifications to earlier VRDS mechanisms make it possible to minimize the adverse effects of disc surface shaking and eccentricity at higher rotational speeds. Cut Aluminum tray: The disc tray is made from cut aluminum which, through interconnection with other mechanical components, has an effect on sound quality. The material provides a high-quality, solid feel. Its opening and closing operations are precision-controlled by a microcontroller. The pickup in ordinary players is designed so that the lens hangs from a wire. This design is not only low in rigidity, but allows the laser optical axis to tilt away from a vertical orientation as the lens moves. In contrast, the pickup used in the UX-1 has a shaft-sliding structure that prevents the laser optical axis from tilting even when the lens is moved. TEAC has also increased the rigidity of the parts supporting the lens. In order to provide a very high-performance pickup capable of smooth, continuous movement, a proprietary Hall element sensing-type three-phase brushless motor is used in the sled transport, and powerful electronic speed feedback circuits control this sled mechanism. This is yet another design feature that improves the precision and accuracy of the data acquisition functions. The spindle system, which may generate fine vibrations during rotation, is isolated from the sled moving system. Since the sled mechanism requires very delicate control, this isolation from high-frequency vibrations ensures superior reading performance. The precision-machined proprietary mechanism combines with new system software to provide optimal servo control for each type of disc. This equates to superior media playability. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS: General System . . . DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-R/RW, Video-CD, SACD, and CD. Power supply . . . AC 120 V, 60 Hz Power consumption . . . 45 W Weight . . . 25 kg (55 lb) External dimensions (W x H x D) . . . 442 x 153 x 353 mm (17-3/8" x 6" x 13-7/8") VIDEO OUTPUT: S-Video output (S1/S2) Y (luminance) - Output level . . . 1 Vp-p (75 Ω) C (color) - Output level . . . 286 mVp-p (75 Ω) Jacks . . . S-VIDEO jack Video output: Output level . . . 1 Vp-p (75 Ω) Jacks . . . RCA jack Component video output (Y, PB, PR): Y-Output level . . . 1.0 Vp-p (75 Ω) PB, PR-Output level . . . 0.7 Vp-p (75 Ω) Jacks . . . BNC jacks D1/D2 video output (Y, PB, PR): Y-Output level . . . 1.0 Vp-p (75 Ω) PB, PR-Output level . . . 0.7 Vp-p (75 Ω) Jacks . . . D terminal DVI-D video output (HDCP compatible digital RGB) Jacks . . . DVID 24pin (conform to TMDS, single link only) AUDIO OUTPUT: (Analog Audio) Jacks . . . XLR jacks (2 channel) x 1 RCA jacks (5.1 channel) x 1 Maximum Output level (1 kHz, full scale) . . . 2.5 Vrms (RCA), 2.3 Vrms (XLR) Nominal Output level (1 kHz, full scale 20dB) 250 mVrms (RCA) 230 mVrms (XLR) Frequency response . . . 5Hz - 80 kHz (DVD-Audio) Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N) . . . 112 dB (SACD, 1 kHz) Dynamic range . . . 106 dB (SACD, 1 kHz) Total Harmonic Distortion . . . 0.001% (SACD, 1 kHz) Decodable formats. . . DTS, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital, PCM 44.1 kHz-192 kHz/16-24 bit, DSD
- Balanced Power Technology (BPT) - BP-3.5 Signature+ Power Conditioner
This unit represents a breakthrough in power line conditioning technology. It is the first of its kinds to use the patented Plitron NBT transformer in a balanced, LoNo configuration. This Narrow Bandwidth Technology combined with our Low Noise technology provides ultra-clean, ultra low-noise power for your high-end audio and video equipment. The LoNo technology assures whisper-quiet performance, superior low in-rush current and rock-solid AC line voltage. The NBT technology provides both common and random noise filtering starting at 1000 Hz on your AC line. You will be rewarded with the purest, sweetest midrange and treble and the most solid, subterranean bass ever. You will no longer merely discuss instrument placement, but which way the player's head is turned, the actual distance, in feet, of how far away the performers are situated, how much spittle is in the mouth piece and whether or not the artist has a smile on his face. The silence between, around and behind the notes is as evident as never before. Singling out individual voices in a mass chorus becomes child's play, as in Mapleshade's stupendous Walk With Me by the Harlem Arc Choir. Realizing the size of the recording venue and placement of the microphones becomes as transparent as looking at a piece of art in your living room - you know how big it is, how high up on the wall, how far away from you, in how large a space, and surrounded by what. Uniquely, our BP-3.5 Signature will show low-level details in the bass/midbass band that were previously smeared and hidden by AC noise, making stand-up bass on Jazz recordings extremely palpable and realistic]. The BP-3.5 Signature and Signature PLUS retain the same design philosophy and quality as our other BP Ultra units but add these special features: Signature & Signature PLUS Case: 8 gauge black powder-coated aluminum chassis Faceplate: 1/4" machined and laser-etched aluminum in clear silver or black coating Hardware: all brass/bronze inside and out Transformer: 2400VA NBT [Narrow Bandwidth Technology] with LoNo [Low Noise] and additional shielding on transformer itself and its primary and secondary wiring as well as double magnetic shielding around the transformer to attenuate stray magnetic fields PLUS extra ERS cloth applications Outlets: top-grade industrial version 20-amp Hubbell with cryogenic treatment by our friends at Cryogenics International, the leader in deep-immersion cryo treatments Wiring: combination of our pure silver wire and silver-plated copper Z-Sleeve: One custom noise reducer that completely obliterate RFI/EMI interference. These are designed for exclusive use inside our BP units by our friends at ZCable Hi-current HCF-20 filter: For a further reduction in low-level noise ERS Cloth: Heavy, and I do mean heavy, use of ERS cloth from our friends at Stillpoints. This unique product diffuses RFI/EMI and reduces its negative effects. We use double layers around the transformer and high-current filter. Single layers are used around the outlets, wiring and filter caps while the Z-Sleeve already comes with it. Circuit breaker: Magnetic instead of thermal switch IEC: Hubbell 20A chassis IEC L-9 cord: A 20-amp, 6-foot 9-gauge Litz cord with special hand-assembled Super-Shield and a First Impressions Music FIM plug [heavily gold-plated, mono-crystal copper]. We highly recommend FIM plugs, outlets and recordings. Options: Bybee Quantum Purifiers [$200] and FIM AC wall outlet [$65] Signature PLUS ($2,999 total) adds: GFCI outlet upgrade: Now Hubbell's most expensive industrial version Wattgate upgrade: All other duplexes become Wattgates, the best in the industry bar none Hi-current HCF-30 filter: A 30-amp filter with extensive surge protection which replaces the 20A filter without surge protection in the regular Signature Z-Sleeve upgrade: To Ultra model (replaces Reference model in regular Signature) Paraphrased from the BP-3.5 Signature review, "NBT reduces line distortion within isolation or power transformers by restricting electromagnetic energy to a very narrow frequency pass band. This effectively attenuates higher harmonic and spike distortions which fall outside the narrow range of the transformer's low-pass filter. NBT is based on an increase of internal series inductance, reduction in primary to secondary capacitance and phase cancellation, the latter obtained by connecting a bifilar control winding in contraposition through a capacitor. At low frequencies, the capacitor acts as an open switch to allow the 50/60Hz power frequency to freely cross the transformer. At high frequencies, the capacitor behaves as a closed switch, with the magnetic flux of the two windings canceling each other for full deletion of high frequency signals. Series inductance and capacitor values fix the corner frequency of the transformer's passing bandwidth. Harmonic artifacts of 50/ 60Hz sine wave distortion are common up to 10kHz, above which switching transients from rectifiers and motor drives enter the picture. At frequencies above 50kHz, strong HF signals from radio, TV and computers are superimposed on the line to appear across the primary winding of a transformer. At frequencies above 1MHz, noise is mostly common mode which refers to both hot and neutral containing an equal amount of amplitude and phase distortion. For frequencies below 1MHz, the major component of the noise is typically differential mode where the noise on both legs' amplitudes is equal but their phase is reversed. Differential mode noise generates a real noise voltage difference between line and neutral. NBT resolves both differential and common mode noise most effectively."
- The Chord Company Signature Interconnects, XLR & RCA
All my interconnects are the new top-of-the-line Signature models. As Chord says: This cable can dramatically improve the sound of your system. Almost any CD player, phono stage or pre/power amplifier combination willl benefit enormously. The shielding system is the most complex we have used, resulting in a huge reduction of low-level noise. The sound is completely transparent and seriously dynamic, but it is the way all of these abilities are brought together that makes the Signature such a superb cable. The Signature will not only amaze you with the sheer amount of information it can carry, it will present it to you in a beautifully coherent and involving manner! -Dual balanced silver-plated solid core conductors. -Triple layer fully floating shield system with optional shield connection. -Internal/external Teflon dielectric -Ultra lightweight silver-plated RCA plugs -Single material signal path
- The Chord Company Signature Speaker Wires
All my speaker wires are the new top-of-the-line Signature models. As Chord says: Fitting Chord Signature speaker cable to your system will come as quite a shock. You will find it hard to believe just how much noise your previous speaker cable was allowing to get in the way of the sound. You will be able to hear very fine and delicate detail that will sound unforced and natural. There will be more space around individual voices and instruments. No matter how complex the music, you will be able to pick out individual instruments. Tonally, the cable is neutral and will portray the very subtle dynamic changes that are so vital to music reproduction. No matter what your system, the innovative design of Chord Signature speaker cable will transform the sound and really bring your music or soundtracks to life. If you are passionate about your music, this is a cable you really must try. -High purity heavy gauge copper conductors -Foam polyethylene insulation -Unique dual ultra-high performance shielding system -Non-ferrous non-compression clamping system -Factory-terminated with high quality gold 4 mm banana plugs
- Electra Glide Epiphany Power Cords-Custom Lengths
Every OEM power chord in my system has been replaced with top-of-the-line Electra Glide Epiphanies. These are the best cords in the world! As Electra Glide states: Simply put, we at Electra Glide cannot make a better cable than our Epiphany. Using a significant amount more of the Silver and Copper foils in the Ultra Khan Statement II Revised/Revelation, we believe that this cable is the best cable ever made. The Epiphany utilizes our new Patent Pending Hybrid-Tek process that fuses our Silver and Copper Foils together under pressure. We have discovered that the Hybrid-Tek process gives the effect of a Siver/Copper Foil in one, and thus the speed of the Silver and the body of the Copper combine. In addition, the Epiphany employs the liberal use of ERS Cloth from Stillpoints. This unique product diffuses RFI/EMI and reduces its negative effects. Our proprietary technology pushes the envelope of the science of foils, along with the use cyrogenics and x-rays to treat both the cable and terminations and a new active shielding. Each one of these cabes takes over a week to produce and is made to order.
- Billy Bags Pro Stands - Sculpted Steel and Glass
Stand made of 1 inch cold rolled hardened steel with 0.069 inch wall thickness and smotth edged custom-cut 3/4 inch cool blue glass shelves. Each steel tube is cut and precision milled then placed in its jig and then arc-welded on the inside of the frame giving the appearance of molded steel. This process insures the highest quality fabrication and maximum rigidity. As one respected stereo equipment reviewer said: These stands combine contemperary elegant aesthetic appeal with a survive the bomb approach construction.
- Marantz 61 TV Monitor, Model PDP-6140D
Flat Out Awesome... Here's the skinny on the latest, greatest, highest performing 61" widescreen HD-Ready plasma monitor ever, the Marantz PD6140D. By utilizing the very best glass with a built in scaler specifically designed for video reproduction, this advanced flat panel display is capable of producing extremely accurate images that are brighter, bigger and more colorful without sacrificing contrast. Ample video imputs, including DVI with HDCP makes the PD6140D compatible with virtually any source available. To see why everyone is jealous, visit an authorized Marantz dealer today. DISPLAY Screen Size 61" Diagonal Resolution 1365x768 Pixel Pitch .99 H×V Aspect Ratio 16:9 Contrast Ratio 860:1 Brightness 320 cd/m2 Displayable Colors 17 million colors Viewing Angle 160° Display Life ** Response Time ** Screen Filter ** SIGNAL - COMPATABILITY Color System NTSC, PAL, SECAM Formats 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i INPUTS Component 3 BNCs Back DVI Digital Input 24 pin DVI Back HDMI HDMI Back RGB 5 BNCs Back RGB 15-Pin Dsub Back Component 3 RCAs Back S-Video 4-pin DIN Back Composite RCA Back GENERAL Bezel Color ** Power Supply 120V - 120V Power Consumption 660 Watts Standby Power ** Dimensions (W x H x D) (without stand or speakers) 57.9" x 34.8" x 4.8" Weight 134.4 lbs. FCC Class ** Warranty 3 years MSRP $ 18,499 Production Status Shipping First Ship Date Jan 2005 ADDITIONAL FEATURES 3:2 Pull Down Yes V-Chip No Closed Captioning Yes Picture-In-Picture No
- Hughes DirecTV Satelite Digital Video Recorder, HR10-250
The DirecTV HD TiVo is one of only a handful of devices that can record high-definition TV. CNET recently reviewed this recorder and this is what they had to say: The DirectTV HD TiVo stands alone as the best and easiest-to-use product for recording HDTV. DESIGN: On the surface, you wouldn't know the HD TiVo is any different from DirecTV's other (non-HD) TiVo tuners, such as the SD-DVR40. Instead of silver, the HD TiVo is champagne/bronze-colored (yuck), and it has a small set of indicator lights that shows current output resolution: 480i, 480p, 720p, or 1080i. Compared to its behemoth crosstown rival, the Dish DVR 921, the 3.5-by-15-by-12-inch (HWD) HD TiVo is sized much more like a standard video component and will fit easily into any standard home entertainment system. The sparse front panel has a handful of function and navigation buttons, but you'll want to use the included remote, which is nearly identical to the one that ships with standard TiVos. It's one of our favorites, and it's equally adept at controlling DVR functions and navigating the hundreds of channels in the electronic program guide (EPG) menus. It can also be programmed to control the basic functions of nearly any brand of television (and power and volume functions on a receiver), thus eliminating one or two more remotes from the coffee table. The TiVo service is completely and seamlessly integrated into the satellite tuner. You can choose to use DirecTV's standard grid EPG, but we preferred the attractive, streamlined TiVo interface and EPG. It remains the best graphical user interface we've seen to date. FEATURES: The HR10-250 has all the great features of the standard "DirecTiVo" satellite tuner/DVRs, with a few enhancements thrown in to maximize its HDTV capabilities. You can pause and rewind live TV; store any combination of 30 hours of high-def and 200 hours of standard-def programming; search program listings and create Wish Lists by actor, director, genre, and other keywords; and use the Season Pass option to automatically record your favorite shows whenever they air. The HD TiVo covers all the bases we'd expect from a state-of-the-art high-definition box. It boasts four tuners--two satellite, two over-the-air (the latter requiring just a single antenna connection). With any two tuners operational, you can record two programs--high-def or standard--and play back a third previously recorded program, all simultaneously. (The onscreen programming guide won't work for the over-the-air feeds, however.) On the connectivity front, the back panel runs the gamut from basic (composite, S-Video, and analog audio outputs) to advanced (HD-capable component and HDMI). An optical digital audio output enables a single-wire surround-sound connection to your A/V receiver. PERFORMANCE: As expected, the HD version of the DirecTV TiVo receiver performed just as well as previous standard-def models, such as the SD-DVR40 or the Philips DSR708. Thanks to the TiVo interface, searching for and selecting shows to watch or record, in standard or high definition, was an easy affair. Likewise, managing recorded programs and Wish Lists was simple and straightforward. And because the TiVo is always on, you can pause and rewind live TV at any time. Unlike standalone DVRs, the HD TiVo records the raw DirecTV signal feed, so there's no signal degradation. As a result, recordings look exactly the same as live feeds. That means most standard channels, and even some high-def networks, exhibit softness or noticeable jaggies, at least on large displays, thanks to DirecTV's aggressive compression techniques. But programs on the best-looking networks--Discovery HD, HDNet, and Universal HD--look great, especially when viewed through the unit's all-digital HDMI connection. The composite and S-Video do work when either the HDMI or component connections are engaged (and set to 480i), so downconverting HD content for DVD/VHS archiving is a snap. The HD TiVo impressed with its recording finesse. It had no problem recording two HD programs simultaneously while playing back a third, previously recorded show. Another bonus: the unit's flexible resolution control makes it easy to lock into a resolution (1080i, 720p, 480p, or 480i) that's best for your monitor. CONCLUSION: In the final analysis, the HD TiVo is the best HD DVR we've seen to date. Its superior interface and stability give it the edge over that Dish model. Furthermore, with DirecTV slated to dramatically expand its HDTV offerings over the next couple of years--and no alternative high-def DVR currently announced or available for the service--we can safely recommend the HD TiVo to satellite customers looking to maximize their high-def viewing.