PLAYERS, AMPS & STEREO SYSTEMS

McIntosh

According to McIntosh, the company’s new Monogrammed Heatsinks in the upcoming MA8900 integrated amplifier don’t just deliver efficient cooling, but also improved sound quality alongside a stylish appearance. Offering 200w per channel, the MA8900 also features an upgraded 8-channel 32-bit DAC with six digital inputs. Signals up to 32-bit/384kHz are supported by over USB input, along with DSD256 and DXD 384kHz.

Alongside the MA8900, McIntosh also revealed the MCD350 SACD/CD player, featuring a balanced two-channel 32-bit/192kHz DAC, balanced and unbalanced analog stereo outputs, plus coax and optical output.

Onkyo

The upcoming A-9150 Integrated Stereo Amplifier from Onkyo aims ims to deliver dynamic, high-quality sound at a more realistic price point than similar offerings from competitors. Along with a 32-bit/768 kHz DAC from AKM for high-quality reproduction of digital sources, ces, Onkyo have refined the power amplifier in the A-9150 and custom m designed two large audio capacitors.

A wide range of inputs are supported: a MM/MC phono input for r connecting to turntables, four RCA line inputs, two coaxial digital al inputs and two optical digital inputs, all of which are gold-plated. d.

Pioneer

Pioneer’s two new high-res network audio players, the N-70AE and the N-50AE, are loaded with features and functionalities designed to appeal to audiophiles. Both feature the SABRE32 Ultra 32 DAC - one in the N-50AE and two in the N-70AE - as well as twin transformers and USB-DAC supporting 2.8/5.6/11.2 MHz DSD.

Chromecast is built-in to both audio players, along with support Spotify Connect, TIDAL and Deezer. USB hard drives can be connected to a USB input, with support for copying music from a computer to the connected hard drive over a local network.

Primare

Primare is using three new products to launch its new wireless multi-room system called Prisma. The I15 and I35 amps, as well as the CD35 player, can all playback stored and streamed media over a network using Prisma, and also support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well as the Prisma app for setting up and controlling multi-room and multi-zone functionality.

Both new amps feature PCM 768kHz and DSD 128 DAC conversion, but the I35 is the more powerful of the two thanks to the new UFPD 2 power system that offers 150w at 8 ohms, compared to the 75w of the I15. Meanwhile the CD35 also supports PCM 768kHz and DSD 128 conversion, and incorporates a new DAC stage with an ESS Sabre chipset.

Technics

Plenty of technology is packed into Technics’ new SCC70 compact stereo system, including Jitter Elimitation and Noise-shaping Optimisation (JENO) Engines for eliminating digital jitter, Load Adaptive Phase Calibration (LAPC) for alignment with speakers, and Space Tune calibration software which, as the name suggests, adjusts sound to an individual spatial situation.

The system features a CD player, USB and Bluetooth functionality, and Apple AirPlay support, as well as support for high-res music playback and network connectivity.

Thorens

As the vinyl revival continues to show that everything old is new again, Thorens have taken inspiration from their heritage for the new TD 900 series turntables. Featuring a three-spring sub-chassis design inspired by classic Thorens turntables, the upcoming TD 903, TD 905 and TD 907 are designed to appeal to vinyl lovers.

The vintage design hasn’t been incorporated at the expense of sound quality, with alternating layers of damping aluminium and polyethylene used in the plinth, base plate and sub-chassis for increased sound quality. The TD 903 is Thorens’ entry level model in the series, followed by the TD 905, then the flagship TD 907.

High End 2018 will be held on 10-13 May next year.