All Products Filed in Demo

Friday, October 15, 2010

These days it's interesting how the polar opposite worlds of analog and digital audio are converging with millions of Americans merging the best attributes of these technologies to form creative ways to listen to music.

Creative Labs, a company's that's been at the forefront of the computer audio movement has recently added to its line of computer-based, THX certified audio components with the release of four new components that are highlighted by the Sound Blaster X-Fi HD device. The Sound Blaster X-Fi HD is a USB audio interface device that can be used in conjunction with a PC to allow users to listen to digital audio files that are stored on their computer, and the ability to rip their vinyl (LP) collections into a digital audio format such as AAC or FLAC.

The product incorporates RCA line outs with 24-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog (DAC) converters, as well as RCA/phono line inputs that feature 24-bit/192kHz analog-to-digital converters that have a dynamic range of 108dB. In addition, the device also includes Toslink input and outputs, a 1/4-inch microphone input and a 1/4-inch headphone jack.

Creative Labs says the USB powered device is compliant with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating systems.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The British loudspeaker company Tannoy has for decades been a trusted manufacturer of pro audio speakers that have been used for a variety of applications that include sound reinforcement and recording studios.

The company also manufactures a complete line of residential products, which are now headlined by the newly released Kingdom Royal freestanding loudspeaker.

Tannoy released the Kingdom Royal after four years of research and development that cover engineering advancements ranging from the cabinet design and crossover network, to its proprietary Dual Concentric driver alignment. Highlighting some of the new designs the company is implementing in this speaker are the use of an all-new 12-inch Dual Concentric that features an outer midrange driver mated to a fiber-cone, voice coil and ferrite motor system.

The speaker's high-frequency driver couples a 3-inch heat-tempered aluminum alloy dome and tulip waveguide to a 1.5kg ferrite motor to form a horn-loaded compression driver. Tannoy also employs its SuperTweeter drive unit to extend the speaker's top-end frequency reproduction all the way up to 54kHz.

Low-end frequency reproduction is headlined by a 15-inch woofer that's set in a ported cabinet that's built with enough cubic volume dampening and bracing to provide clean bass reproduction down to 15Hz.

Controlling everything is a mechanically isolated, hardwired crossover network that utilizes components like ICW ClarityCap MR polypropylene capacitors, low-loss laminated core inductors and non-inductive, heat sink mounted thick film resistors.

Tannoy says the 8-ohm, 96dB efficient speaker can handle 300 watts of RMS power and up to 1,200 watts of peak power, and it's capable of reproducing a frequency range of 24Hz to 54kHz.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Apparently technology is like fashion in that things like leg warmers and analog audio can both go out and come back into style at a moment's notice.

Currently the consumer electronics market is experiencing a resurgence in historic technologies like tubes and vinyl, and for long-term supporters of these technologies like Lamm Industries, this renewed consumer interest is breeding new and younger buyers.

Lamm's new LL2.1 line-level tube preamplifier is the company's new replacement for its LL2 preamp. The Class A LL2.1 features a new circuit design, a tube rectifier, and a choke-type filter that Lamm says eliminates hum and buzz to provide users with a dynamic, uncolored listening experience.

The line-level preamp incorporates three inputs, one tape loop, two sets of outputs, a front panel muting switch, an attenuator for gain reduction, a global on/off switch for use with Lamm amps and an automatic mute that activates when the unit is turned off or on. In addition, Lamm offers the preamp in a standard and deluxe version. The deluxe version is identical to the standard version except its power supply energy storage is doubled, and all its film caacitors are paralleled by polystyrene capacitors.

Now let's hope that stone-wash pants and bad digital transfers stay in the 1980s.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

In today's economy products from companies like Elite Screens can prove to be valuable to installers trying to meet the value demands of discerning consumers.

The company's new Raptor Modular product is the latest version Raptor series screen and it provides CE Pros with a retractable screen product that can be removed from its furniture housing and placed in spaces to completely conceal its existence when it's not in use.

Elite says the product uses its CineWhite Tension material to ensure it remains flat and when this technology is combined with its 1.1 gain and black backing, the screen can be implemented in a variety of room environments without suffering from image quality issues.

In addition, the company says the self-standing projection screen is also available with its non-tensioned, Maxwhite 1.1 gain material, and the line is offered in a choice of three sizes in a 1.78:1 (16:9) ratio: 78 inches, 84 inches and 92 inches.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Most video enthusiasts prefer the flexibility and visceral impact of a two-piece projection system and now as the market trends into 3D content projection solutions are also emerging.

One existing product that's ready to handle the technology demands of 3D content is Vutec's Silverstar screen. Using a silver-based material and several optical layers, the high-gain 6.0 screen can help projectors produce the brightness and grayscale necessary to reproduce 3D content without losing contrast.

The Fla.-based company offers the screen in a choice of screen sizes and aspect ratios to enable the screen to be used in a variety of residential environments. In addition, the company also offers passive and active versions to accommodate the different technologies used in the 3D video category.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Cary Audio is one of the top audio manufacturers in the market and it's built this reputation through its tube products, including products like its CAD 120S amplifier.

Recently the company introduced an update to the CAD 120S it calls the CAD 120S MKII, and it says that some of the revisions its made to the original balanced circuit design include modifications to its network feedback that reduces its overall global feedback, and adjustments to its input gain stage.

Cary says the changes result with the amp producing greater dynamics, with a wider soundstage and the ability to produce more detail.

The American company rates the amp to produce 60 watts per channel in triode mode and 120 watts per channel in ultralinear mode. Cary says that users can change modes "on the fly" and front panel meters indicate the amp's tube bias and operational status.

Tube enthusiasts interested in Cary's choice of tubes, the CAD 120S MKII employs a single 6SN7 in the input stage, a single 6SN7 in the driver stage and four KT88 tubes in the output stage. The amp also includes a choice of RCA and XLR (balanced) outputs and a soft-start turn-on circuit to protect the tubes from harsh start ups.