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Coverage of HI-FI '99 from Chicago, USA -- May 12-16, 1999
Do not adjust your monitor -- these Musical Fidelity components are that big. Doug Schneider hides behind the Nuvista 300 hybrid metal-tube power amp and its outboard power supply ($5495). Musical Fidelity is producing the amp in a limited quantity of 500 units. The special single-triode metal tube used in the amp is estimated at 12-15 years of life.
The fall availability of Sony's SCD-1 SACD player and software was the audio announcement of the Show. The SCD-1 is being used in a few rooms other than Sony's own, and wherever we encountered it, we were impressed.
The PS Audio P300 Power Plant is said to be a power regenerator that converts AC line voltage to DC and, using high-sampling-rate digital circuitry, creates a new 60Hz low-distortion AC output. The Power Plant's introductory price is $895, and it is available for factory-direct purchase at www.psaudio.com. It's just one of an increasing number of products available over the Internet.
The platter for the Walker Audio Proscenium Gold Signature turntable ($17,250 fully maxed out) weighs 75 pounds, the base 130 pounds. With the $4000 Clearaudio Accurate cartridge, the Proscenium made 24/96 digital less of a story.
The trio of Roksan Kandy series electronics made their debut in Chicago. Included are a 120Wpc integrated amplifier, CD player and tuner for a combined system price of $1995.
Pioneer's ISO-Drive series of loudspeakers had Doug Blackburn talking endlessly about their performance with music -- and their price. All models have the baffle isolated from the cabinet. Prices for the three different stereo/main speaker models range from $179 up to $299 -- three speaker models for less than $300 per pair! The line also includes a center-channel speaker ($169), powered subwoofer ($399), and wall-mount surrounds ($149/pair). Designer Andrew Jones is shown here holding one of the surround speakers. |
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Copyright © 1999 |
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