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News Journal
Welcome to the Audio Note Singapore's online news journal. This is where all future news, product updates and event announcements will be placed. We decided on this format instead of periodical newsletters so that we can get the news out faster to you and keep things fresh all the time. [Bookmark this page.] Last updated: 30 Jul 2008
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Sutherland PH-3D 8 July 2008     Some of the above images have larger
versions, please click over the images. A winner of Absolute Sound magazine’s 2007 Editor’s Choice Award and Phono Stage of the Year award (2007), it has options for 5 gain and impedance settings with the use of gold-plated header pins and gold-plated shunts on its dual-mono signal board. They offer high-pressure and large surface area contacts compared to inexpensive, low-quality computer rocker switches. In use, we find that this covers practically every cartridge load requirement in the market. A unique design feature (for a relatively inexpensive product) is its full battery power supply. This means complete isolation from the noisy AC power line, ensuring an ultra-low noise threshold and is a logical way of getting those legendary black backgrounds that the mega-buck phono stages routinely provide. Based on personal listening experience, this is one suave performer that excels in a smooth and musically refined presentation of everything that is thrown at it. The PH-3D has a clarity that is refreshingly grainless and has proven to be superbly non-fatiguing over extended listening sessions. What this all adds up to is a giant-killer that deserves to be seriously considered even if you have a much higher budget for a quality phono stage. Seriously… Related Links: |
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TW Acustic ! 5 July 2008  .jpg)    Some of the above images have larger
versions, please click over the images. For those of you who have just come down from some hermitage in the mountains, TW Acustic manufactures 2 models of belt-driven turntables – the Raven AC and Raven One. Both are now subjects of numerous rave reviews from all around the world, and are also recipients of Golden Ear awards in The Absolute Sound magazine’s July 2008 issue. New from them is a very high quality tube phono stage that has sufficient gain to enable low output MC cartridges to be connected directly into it without any step-up transformer, and amazingly quiet too! I have listened to the Raven Phono and can safely say that the sound quality is marvelous! Enough said. The first shipment is due to arrive in late August, so please let us know if you want one of these beauties. Production is limited due to the hand-crafted nature of the products and experience has shown that these items are quickly snapped up almost as soon as they arrive. In spite of that, I hope to have a 3 motor version of the Raven AC on demo by then. Unfortunately the link to their website is now only in German. However, I hope to have our own product pages up soon and I will make an announcement of that when they are ready. Reviews of these products. Related Links: |
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DeVore Fidelity – now on demo 7 April 2008      Some of the above images have larger
versions, please click over the images. The delay was due mainly to the implementation of some new wood finishes and better cosmetic touches on some of their models, but the wait has been well worth it as the new speakers in our showroom look like a million bucks (in a manner of speaking)! Especially stunning is the new “wild cherry” finish that is being offered as a premium wood option on the Gibbon Nine. Here are some photos of the actual speakers in our showroom so that you can judge for yourselves the quality of their cabinetry. True to their reputation of being an easy load, we find that the Gibbons work very well with all of our low powered tube amps, delivering a sound that is open, holographic and fluid. These are really soundstaging champs, with an almost wall to wall presentation of sound. What was a little unexpected (though pleasantly so) is the speed and articulation of the bass notes, even when driven by tube amps that are not known to be high current devices. These are the speakers that we have been searching for the longest time. Full range speakers that are easy to drive and yet possessing a high quality of tonal accuracy, speed and refinement, all packaged in a relatively compact and beautifully finished cabinet! The Gibbons may yet be the answer to the prayers of countless single-ended tube amplifier lovers out there! Related Links: |
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Totem Acoustics’ The One – Just arrived 20 March 2008    Some of the above images have larger
versions, please click over the images. Though it looks similar to the legendary Model One, external changes allow bi-wiring via an extra set of exotic W.B.T. terminals. A medallion on the back identifies them as The One units. Internally, wiring metallurgy was further optimized and specifically designed for The One. The usual fabulous crossover work that is present in all Totem models is brought to an extreme art form in The One. No expense or development cost was spared in obtaining the most exotic and musically pleasing components. I heard a fully run-in pair at the 2008 CES in Las Vegas, and it impressed me enough to immediately place an order for these speakers. It was extremely full-bodied, with a soundstage almost like a large full range speaker - and what refinement! The purity of tone and amount of transparency it possesses will make most other speakers sound woefully coloured in comparison. When you hear it in its full glory, believe me, you will have the thought that “I want a pair of these” regardless of the speakers you already own! (More pictures at product information page, click the link below) Related Links: |
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Transfiguration’s latest Phoenix (modified) cartridge 13 March 2008    Some of the above images have larger
versions, please click over the images. Before I get ahead of myself, let’s go back to the beginning. This is the latest Phoenix (modified) that we’re talking about, Transfiguration having re-modified the Phoenix using a purer (5N) and thicker silver wire. This new incarnation has an internal impedance of only 4 ohms, compared with 7 ohms of the earlier Phoenix. This version is claimed to “have a sophisticated ability to resolve musical detail, with excellent air and an ability to retrieve information in soft passages and where subtle musical harmonics are important”. Whatever claims the manufacturer has about their products usually need to be taken with a pinch of salt, right? After all, have you ever heard a manufacturer claim that their product is only mediocre though good value for the money? Well, what I heard, and confirmed by a few others who were present during the listening sessions, impressed the heck out of me! In this case, the manufacturer’s blurb about their product is not an exaggeration at all but quite modest in fact, based on our initial impressions. The new Phoenix (modified) sounds quite a bit like the Orpheus in sharing many family traits, but with its own special set of qualities. Unlike the Orpheus with its wall to wall soundstaging ability and totally 3D dimensionality, the Phoenix offers a more intimate presentation. It draws the performers or performance closer to you, almost giving the impression that you could reach out and touch them. This is not to say that it is in any way forward or aggressive, but just so rich, full-bodied and so very believable in its treatment of the music. Utterly seductive! At the price that it is being marketed at, I have to say that it is THE most musically satisfying cartridge I have ever had the privilege to listen to. The competition doesn’t even come close! If you sense a bit of hot air blowing around, then come down and have a good listen to the Phoenix (modified) for yourselves. As they say, hearing is believing! Related Links: |
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All information in the news articles is valid at the stated dates of the news articles and in local context. Some information may not be relevant at the current time, please contact us for more information. Photographic images taken by Audio Note Singapore are copyrights and properties of Audio Note Singapore. All product names and trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
© 2005 Audio Note Singapore. All rights reserved. [ 14259 ]
© 2005 Audio Note Singapore. All rights reserved. [ 14259 ]
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