Hello Gorgeous! Meet the new M6

Meridian changes the face of speakers . . . Again
 

M6 was developed through Meridian's inspired approach to contemporary design, with all the features that make Meridian DSP Loudspeakers unique — including the performance of a conventional loudspeaker eight times the physical volume, with all the necessary electronics neatly hidden in its circular base - combining superb sound with elegant design that's at home in any room.

Despite its compact, sculptural appearance, M6 remains true to Meridian's founders' original design ethos: to create the best-sounding loudspeakers in a form that blends seamlessly into your home. The gently-tapered column is created from a unique resin, developed specifically for its inert acoustic qualities. The enclosure provides separate, isolated housings for the wide-range and low-frequency drivers. A tuned porting system and downwards-facing bass driver further extends the loudspeaker's low-frequency performance and helps M6 blend effortlessly into the listening environment. The slim enclosure also provides a wide dispersion, filling the room with superbly-imaged, natural sound. A discreet light 'halo' under the aluminium top-cap indicates whether the loudspeaker is operating (white) or in standby (blue). M6 is an ideal complement to the Audio Core 200,  which provides complete control and access to all your music sources.


Introducing the 818 Reference Preamp


Meridian has also introduced their 818 Reference Audio Core preamplifier ($15,000) with a full suite of proprietary resolution enhancement technologies. As part of the Meridian 800 Reference Series, 818 is the highest performance two-channel preamplifier and Sooloos end-point manufactured by the company. The 818 offers simple networked integration with any Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System plus an array of other sources through high-performance analogue and digital inputs. Meridian's 818 employs triple FIFO buffering along with a full suite of Meridian’s proprietary resolution enhancing DSP technologies, including apodizing up-sampling of standard-rate digital inputs. For instance, the high-speed USB input on 818 allows a simple high-quality connection to be made between a personal computer and the Reference Audio Core, allowing 818 to function as an external soundcard for the computer.

Kaleidescape Launches DV700

Blu-ray Disc Vault without the cost of a player
 

Last year's M700 Disc Vault combined the stunning images and high resolution audio of the Blu-ray format with the industry-leading user interface of Kaleidescape's entertainment system. It provided a way to bulk load DVDs and CDs in to a system along with the ability to load and store up to 320 Blu-ray discs  per vault — and then play all that content back in one of your zones. The M700 collected awards and glowing reviews from customers, but for some with existing systems they would have preferred its storage functions without the cost of an additional, unnecessary player.

Kaleidescape is nothing if not customer-focused and they have now responded to this request with the new, lower-cost DV700 which features all the bulk loading and Blu-ray storage functions of its big brother, the M700, but at a lower price. What's more, for early adopters who bought the initial Modular Disc Vault there's a trade-in offer for anyone returning a Modular Disc Vault after the purchase of a new DV700. Email us for more information.

Spinning Discs, 21st-Century Style

Audio High welcomes the ClearAudio Concept
 

One of the surprising stories to come out of  all the upheavals in the music industry is the resurgence of vinyl. Whether it's people falling in love with the sound of LPs again, the luxurious packaging or labels providing the "best of both worlds" with bundled downloads, sales of records have grown significantly in the last few years.

As a result we wanted to provide our customers with a great price/performance solution for vinyl playback, and luckily our friends at ClearAudio had just the product: the Concept. It's available pre-configured with a moving-magnet or moving-coil cartridge so you can start playing right out of the box. Alternatively, you get it "naked" to partner with your preferred cartridge. Its sleek, solid German build quality will last you many years and it sounds pretty great to boot! In fact, What Hi-Fi has named it their "Turntable of the Year" for the last 3 years.

Of course, we encourage you to drop by to see and hear it, so bring a favorite album and prepare to be astounded. If you don't have any vinyl handy, we can remedy that at a record sale we are hosting for the Friends of Palo Alto Library (see below) on Sat Feb 11th. So you really have no excuse not to enjoy a good old fashioned record again!

KEF Starts The Next 50 Years In Style

New R-Series brings Blade performance for all
 

Featuring many of KEF’s latest innovations in premium hi-fi and home theatre loudspeaker technology, the all-new R Series makes genuine audiophile standards of entertainment more affordable than ever before. Stunningly fluent new Uni-Q driver arrays combine with potent new bass drivers and many ingenious refinements to create a rich, spacious sound image of such accuracy that it approaches the benchmark standards of KEF’s legendary Reference Series.
 
With nine handsome models including three floorstanders, two bookshelf speakers, two fully-specified centre channels, dipole surrounds, and a matching subwoofer, the all-new R Series represents a decisive step forward in the enjoyment of music or film. By incorporating the high-end technologies of the KEF Blade in a classically elegant format, it gives serious audiophiles phenomenally accurate reproduction that neither adds to nor subtracts from the original recording: refined, spacious, and exquisitely detailed. For those whose appreciation of true audio excellence outstrips their bank balance, it’s the perfect buy.

Chord's Tank-Proof Build Quality

One Reviewer takes their task to the extreme. 
 

Reviewers occasionally comment on certain products being "built like a tank," but it's  an assertion that usually goes untested — unless you are Chord Electronics. In conjunction with a German reviewer, they tested the adage first with a standard CD player and then with a Chord DAC. See for yourself in this video:
 

YouTube - Russian Tank vs Chord DAC

Upcoming Audio High Events

An Evening with Audez'e and Smyth Research