NAD debuted seven new BEE-designated components in the
Classic series, all designed by NAD Director of Advanced Development Bjorn Erik Edvardsen.
Three of them were used to excellent effect to drive a pair of PSB Synchrony One
loudspeakers. The upsampling C 565BEE CD player (top, $799) is said to offer
construction and performance similar to that of the Master Series M5 CD player at roughly
half the cost. The C 165BEE preamplifier (middle) costs $899, and the 150Wpc
C 275BEE stereo power amplifier is $1199. [www.nadelectronics.com]
Anthem, sister company to Paradigm, surprised everyone with
the debut of the LTX 500 LCOS-based projector. But while surprising, it makes sense. Along
with Paradigm speakers, the companies can now offer a complete home-theater system that
includes speakers, electronics (Anthem also showed the new D2V
A/V processor), and a display device. The LTX 500's price is to be determined, and
availability is said to be the second quarter of 2009. [www.anthemav.com]
Shunyata Research introduced the Hydra V-Ray Version II
power conditioner, which is priced at $5000. The new V-Ray has eight outlets and for noise
reduction contains Shunyata's ZrCa compound along with four "VF filters" and
a 14-element "VFA array." [www.shunyata.com]
North Carolina’s Cary Audio Design introduced two Xciting
new products: the Xciter integrated amplifier ($2750) and Xciter digital-to-analog
converter ($1500). The integrated amp outputs 5Wpc in class-A triode mode for your
high-sensitivity loudspeakers, features three RCA inputs, a headphone jack, a motorized
volume control, and even has a subwoofer output. The matching DAC uses a new
32-bit/192kHz-capable AKM chipset and sports a USB input along with the more common
optical and coaxial connections. These two components stack, making them a sleek little
desktop system.
John McDonald of Audience has been a very busy fellow. The
Wavemaster preamplifier (projected price of $12,000) offers both active and passive modes.
The matching Wavepower mono amplifier ($10,000 per pair,
projected) outputs 100Wpc into 8 ohms and is said to include the company’s aR-T power
conditioning. [www.audience-av.com]
The pyramid shape of the Nagra PSA amplifier is immediately
recognizable. The new MSA (center and right) is the next generation of
the PSA series, using two MOSFET output devices per channel but offering less power: 60Wpc
versus 100Wpc for the PSA. The MSA can also be bridged and used as a mono amp. No price
has been set, but Nagra expects that it will be around that of the PSA's $7295. [www.nagraaudio.com]
