We're always adding new products to our list of quality offerings.

Here are a few tidbits to temp you further...

SoundBites Newsletter online - CES 2009 Issue!

Have you ever wondered how an aftermarket power cord, which represents the last 6 feet or so of many miles of cheap in-wall and underground wiring, can make any difference at all to sound or video? We get this question a lot, so I've have added a page to our "How To's" section that provides the answer. Read it here.

While you're in the "How To's" section of our site, browse around, you'll find lot's of interesting articles!
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STEREOVOX: Digital cable guru, Chris Sommovigo, has done it again! The next step in digital cable design has arrived in the form of his new XV-Ultra. Building on the strengths of the class-dominating XV2, the XV-Ultra raises the bar (again) for digital cables, establishing a new performance benchmark.
         Inside the XV-Ultra you’ll find Mil-Spec silver-plated copper solid core conductor and precision low-density cold-process air articulated Teflon™ tapes, metal foil + woven shields along with  an RF-absorbing layer of pure woven carbon fiber. The unique external jacket expresses minimal dielectric effect.
         Stereovox has introduced a long-cycle cryogenic treatment, not only to the raw cable itself, but also to all the connectors and adapters. This has the effect of altering the temper of the crystal lattice matrices in all of the metals used to create the cable. Cryogenic treatment has become one of the most well-regarded treatments for cables as well as other audio parts and devices over the last decade or so.
        The result is a peerless and pure 75-Ohm Giant Killer that will kick your digital side up yet another notch!
         The XV-Ultra is priced at an amazingly low $350, 1M - truly a bargain for this level of performance! Click the link for special introductory pricing!

** For a limited time, trade in your Stereovox XV-2 cable and receive a $100 credit on an XV-Ultra, yours for only $250! **

REFERENCE 3A: A host of significant upgrades have been introduced, making this wonderful line of speakers even better.

• Internal Wiring:  New CCC (continuous cast pure copper) internal wiring with clear Teflon dielectric. Appropriate thickness of the wire is used for each driver (0.6mm. dia. for tweeter, 0.8mm. for full range and 1.2 mm for bass etc...). 

• Mechanical Grounding of the Drivers: Drains spurious vibration energy from the driver frames.

• Copper Shorting Ring: Improves linearity in driver voice coil magnetic gap. 

• Soft brass screws and phenolic washers used to fasten and isolate drivers: Reduces interactive driver/frame resonances and isolates drivers from the cabinets.

• New larger, height adjustable brass cones and brass floor pads: Better than aluminum alloy or steel isolation cones.

• New five way binding posts with gold plated tellurium copper conductors: Better conductor than the commonly used brass for further improved clarity. 

• New C.C.C. copper bi-wire jumpers: Clearly better than the jumpers previous used.

• Cryogenic treatment: All connectors, internal wiring, and metal driver parts are now cryogenically treated 

We just received a pair of the Grand Veena (in stunning black piano lacquer) with the latest upgrades, and they are incredible! If you're in the market for loudspeakers, you really need to check out the Reference 3A line. Call us with your questions or for more details and special pricing.

ESOTERIC: Announced at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, the new Esoteric SA-50 has arrived! The CD/SACD player features 32 bit DACs, and a USB input for PCM data streaming and USB signal up-conversion. This allows the SA-50 to function as an ultra high quality DAC for a computer based system or media storage device. In addition to USB, Coax and Optical Toslink inputs are included. A precise 32 bit digital volume attenuator enables the SA-50 to be used as a standalone up-sampler, DA converter or digital preamp! This is one incredible machine! $5000

PEACHTREE: I was amazed by the performance of this unit at the 2009 CES (read my account), so I was eager to get one in my hands. That time has finally arrived and I can tell you, it was well worth the wait!
         Nova is an integrated amp with Class A tube-based input (6922) stage mated to a stout 80 watt Class AB output stage. Much more than that, the unit features an ESS 9006 Sabre DAC with 24/96 up-sampling. It will decode virtually any data stream including MP3, MP4, FLAC, FF, WAV, Apple Lossless and others. There are host of digital and analog inputs allowing connection of virtually any source. The Nova has a USB input for your computer in addition to two coax and two optical inputs for other sources such as Apple TV, Squeezebox, Wadia iTransport, Airport, Sonos and XM or Sirius tuners. It also features three analog inputs for CD players, docking stations, tape decks or phono preamps plus fixed and variable line outputs for subwoofer or outboard amplifier. Home theater bypass is also included. As if that weren’t enough, there’s even a Class A Tube headphone output!
        The unique ESS Sabre DAC uses patented jitter reduction engine that re-clocks the signal (reducing jitter to virtually zero) before passing it through to a high resolution 24/96 up-sampling processor. Peachtree surrounds the DAC with 11 (!) regulated power supplies and transformer couple each digital input stage so noise associated with grounding and switching power supplies is eliminated.
        The Nova can be a wonderful foundation for a main or second system, or the basis of the world’s best office rig. Just load your favorite songs onto your office desktop (or carry an iPod to work) and plug it into the Nova. Attach a small pair of speakers or a pair of headphones and recharge with some beautiful music.

SPECIAL -- FREE SHIPPING!

JOLIDA: It’s new, it’s cool and it sounds great! The Jolida FX-10 is a real hoot and will no doubt prove to be a popular unit. Whether for an office, dorm room, table top or entry level system, the FX-10 will provide the sweet, musical tube sound that has made Jolida famous.
        Not only does it sound great, the FX-10 has a host of features to make it convenient and flexible. It’s full remote handset controls volume and selects input. There are two RCA line inputs on the rear for your CD, tuner, phono preamp or any other line source. An additional line input on front panel accepts 1/8” mini plug and can be used to connect a portable audio player. Jolida has included a special cable for the iPod that allows you to use the line output, rather than the headphone output, for optimum performance.
        The FX-10 biases itself automatically, so no user adjustments are required. It's about as plug-and-play as tube audio gets!
        At just $449, the Jolida FX-10 is a remarkable value! Even better, it's on special! Click the Purchase Now button to discover the extra savings!

BRYSTON: Join us in welcoming the highly products from Bryston of Canada! A name long associated with quality and reliability, Bryston first made a name for themselves in the world of professional audio with their robust amplifiers. Over the years their designs have received numerous awards for performance and consistency.
        Bryston's first digital product, the BCD-1 CD Player, has drawn universal praise from reviewers worldwide. To quote just a few:
         “With the BCD-1, Bryston has succeeded in building a CD player worthy of the company name. I haven't heard flagship players from other companies, but the BCD-1 is the best digital component I have heard. There may be better disc spinners out there, but I guarantee that many that are competitive with the BCD-1 cost multiples of its price and more than likely offer a different sound rather than one that's obviously better.” – Phillip Beaudette, Soundstage
        “Over time, I predict the Bryston BCD-1 will prove to resemble the Linn Sondek in one other way; it will be recognized as a landmark product of the CE era.” – Absolute Sound
        "Ultimately, if this player doesn’t stir the blood, you should get checked over for anemia.” -Alan Sircom, HiFi+
         Priced at just $2695, the BCD-1 is a tremendous value. Offering a pure, clean and focused sound and built with Bryston reliability and backed with outstanding customer support, the BCD-1 should definitely be on your short (very short!) list.

VPI: NOW SHIPPING! The Classic Turntable uses new VPI pure copper wire, a solid plinth with black oak or walnut finish, a solid mounted AC synchronous motor, silent inverted bearing, and new isolator feet.
       The sound of the Classic Turntable is claimed to be "fast, clean, wide open, with deep powerful bass, and unequalled in speed stability." VPI took great care in this special design, with speed stability on par with a master tape, high noise rejection, a lack of random motion between the motor, platter, and tonearm plus an absolutely solid, non-resonating laminated one-piece chassis holding all components. The really solid construction is evidenced by the 45 pound net weight.
$2500 NOW SHIPPING!

EQUIPMENT CLEANING:  To keep your equipment looking new, a regular schedule of cleaning is necessary. Just like washing your car to protect the finish, occasional cleaning of your audio equipment is essential if you want to keep it looking its best.
       As you might expect, we've cleaned a few components here! Over the years, and hundreds and hundreds of components later, we’ve truly learned what works and what doesn't. This product is one that we can highly recommend!
        Back in 1992 a small firm developed a unique cleaning formulation for metal and painted surfaces. So effective was it that they approached Honda Motor Company, who promptly agreed to market it. Thus was born Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish.
          "Honda Polish" became an instant hit and over the years attracted many fans. Much to our dismay Honda discontinued the product in early 2007. Fortunately, the original manufacturer decided to reintroduce it under their own brand name.
        It's great stuff, and cheap too! Just $6.25 for a large 16oz can. Grab some, you need it!
        For a more complete understanding of taking care of your gear, read our article on Equipment Cleaning.

SHUNYATA: Shunyata Research's Dark Field Mini Cable Elevators are the most cost-effective and efficient method of improving system performance through cable isolation. DFE Mini’s form an ideal interface as a means of separating power cords and signal cables from one another, as well as away from electronics. They create valuable distance from AC outlets and power distributors. Not only do the DFE Mini's help organize a mess in cables, they actually optimize performance by minimizing radiated electromagnetic noise interference between components and cable systems, as well as between noise sensitive power and signal cabling that often physically cross each other’s paths.
          The Dark Field Mini Cable Elevators cumulative performance signature is unmistakable and will noticeably improve visual and audible resolution in all film and sound systems. The DFE Mini’s are also an ideal system counterpart to the original award-winning Dark Field Cable Elevators. When used together, the DFE Mini’s and Dark Field Cable Elevators provide an entire systems worth of isolation that will benefit every system, from budget to exotic rigs.
           Special introductory offer, just $89 for a set of 12!

WADIA: The Wadia iTransport turns any currently available iPod player into a high-end media server by providing a bit-perfect digital audio output to your audio/video system, bypassing the player’s internal D/A conversion and output stage. The audio signal remains pure, providing CD-quality resolution from full-resolution file formats such as .WAV and .m4a (Apple® Lossless).
          This revolutionary product is a bridge between the convenience of an iPod and the high-end capabilities of today’s advanced audio systems. Previously, the goal of having an iPod act as a true high-end media server had been hampered by the need to send the digital signal through the iPod’s D/A converter rather than that of a high-performance audio system. The engineers at Wadia fixed this problem by designing the iTransport to bypass the player’s converter and output stage altogether. The result is absolutely sensational sound — when used with an iTransport, the iPod becomes a digital music source equal to some of the finest sounding transports in the high-end audio market.
            FLASH! Seen at the 2009 CES Show were two new Wadia products has designed to partner the iTransport. A USB DAC and a digital amplifier will be available in the same size chassis. No specifics regarding availability at this time, but stay tuned!

MUSIC HALL: Lots of folks today are buying, storing and listening to music through their computer, media server or portable music player. Many of those distribute their tunes using Sonos, Squeezebox or similar systems. Though convenient, these options are limited by their modest DACs. The Music Hall dac25.2 addresses this problem.
            Pairing a state of the art digital-to-analog converter with a tube output stage (single 6922), the dac25.2 produces the clarity and precision of a 24 bit DAC with the warm, rich, open sound of tubes. All the digital inputs you could ask for are here, including USB, coax, AES/EBU and TOSLINK. On the front panel you’ll find controls to select between 96 kHz or 192 kHz up-sampling modes, a headphone output and volume control. Great story, but the punch line is the price, just $595! A steal!

AUDIBLE ILLUSIONS: We've finally got (a few) more of the Premium Tube Sets from Audible Illusions. These sets utilize the hard to find Russian NOS 6H23N-EB ultra low noise, ultra low microphonic tubes - and the only tubes known to last in the Modulus preamps. Most 6922 tubes go noisy or microphonic within 6 months to a year when used in a Modulus, but the 6H23N-EB have been known to last five years or more!
      Unlike 6H23N-EB tubes you find elsewhere, the  Premium Tube Sets come straight from Audible Illusions, where they are carefully matched and graded specifically for parameters important in the Modulus preamps. If you own a Modulus, you need these tubes. Even in your tubes are in good shape, put a set of these on the shelf. Limited supply, get them while you can!

WIREWORLD: Just out from Wireworld, a brand new USB cable! The Ultraviolet USB employs 26 gauge silver plated oxygen-free copper conductors and proprietary low-loss ground path to provide superior performance over longer distances than any other USB cable by significantly reducing digital jitter and drastically minimizing noise caused by error correction circuits.
    Yes, just like in other digital applications, the cable does matter! On special at $45 for a 1M, $55 in a 2M length and $65 for 3M.

Home Theater

WIREWORLD: The Wireworld Island HDMI cable’s flat and compact design, at less than 1⁄8-inch thick and a half an inch wide, makes it ideal in tight system racks. The high quality terminations employ unusually compact connectors, making the cables even easier to use in tight spaces. The Island cable is fully compliant with the latest HDMI 1.3 version and 1080p resolution output making it an inexpensive, but valuable upgrade for current high definition displays and sources, including Blu-Ray 1080P disc players. Prices start at just $29!

Recently there have been questions regarding the reliability of posted speed/bandwidth rating of HDMI cables. Wireworld has maintained strict adherence to testing procedures to certify their HDMI cables meet  or exceed their published spec. We received the following information from Wireworld cautioning purchasers about the problem.

HDMI Standards Organization issue word of caution

In recent months we have seen improbable and dramatic claims being made by various manufacturers and distributors of HDMI cables both from UK and overseas.
         The claims were all vague and were not supported by any substantiated measurements of specific models or their length.
        At WireWorld we elected instead to provide full disclosure of our testing results, and in addition clearly marked each cable variant for its performance capabilities since 2005.
        We therefore welcome the latest clarifications that were posted by HDMI international licensing body last week.
        Extracts from: What do Speed Ratings on HDMI Cables Measure? News from the HDMI Standards Organization, March ‘08
         “A Standard HDMI cable is tested to support a throughput of 2.23 Gbps, and can reliably transmit an     uncompressed 1080i signal at 60Hz.”
         “A High Speed HDMI cable, by contrast, has been tested to the full 10.2 Gbps bandwidth of the most current HDMI standard, and is capable of transmitting uncompressed 1080p and beyond.”
          “One word of caution. Do check to make sure that the speed rating indicated on the package applies to the actual length of the cable. Cable performance deteriorates over length, so any speed rating should apply to the actual length of the cable in the package.”
                                  Read More: Tech Alert--Speed Ratings on HDMI Cables
         We sincerely hope that in future both the press and retailers will take a more cautious approach towards performance claims made by manufacturers of HDMI cables and ask factual information rather than relying on creative marketing material.
 
Visit the Wireworld website to see how they rate their cables: www.wireworldcable.co.uk