Dynaudio MC15 - The Ultimate Multimedia Speaker Let's face it folks. Ipods, Itunes, streaming audio...they aren't going anywhere. Do they have a place in the audiophile world? Absolutely, now that Dynaudio has come out with the new MC15 "powered" multi-media speaker. This is the ultimate in compact powered speaker for your workstation, MP3 player, home computer, streaming audio, and gaming console. Each speaker has a high quality built in amplifer with adjustable equalization and sensitivity for a variety of listening conditions. Just run a quality interconnect from your computer or MP3 player and you're ready to go. You can also put together a fantastic main 2, 5, or 7 channel system by adding a cd/dvd player and a preamp or processor. Dynaudio has always made some of the worlds finest speakers. Another great speaker from the Danes.   Cayin Audio A88T Cayin Audio's A88T integrated tube amplifier is one of the best sounding and best looking integrated amplifiers at any price. When you consider that this amplifier isn't too far past the $2k mark, it gets really exciting. With remote control, and ultra linear/triode selectivity you can understand why it got a rave review in Stereophile and received the coveted "Editors Choice" award from The Absolute Sound. Check out this and other amplifiers from Cayin Audio starting at under $1500.   Simaudio Moon 5.3LP Phono Preamplifier The MOON LP5.3 represents a significant step forward in phono preamplifier design. Particular attention has been paid to noise levels and dynamic range, making the LP5.3 one of the quietest phono preamplifiers ever, on par and even superior to many models at significantly higher price points. Sonically, it portrays all the Simaudio hallmarks: clean, powerful, fast and extended bass combined with an open midrange and airy extended high frequencies. One of the strengths of the LP5.3 is its extensive flexibility with respect to end-user adjustments for resisitance and capacitance loading as well as gain. The balanced outputs allows you to take full advantage of connectivity to a balanced preamplifier for a significant improvement in noise floor, dynamics and midrange transparency. Unlike most of the competition, which either uses mass-manufacturing techniques or a circuit mounted in a basic folded metal box, the LP5.3 is housed in a custom-made, sturdy chassis with a 3/8" brushed and anodized front panel. "Silly good and easy to recommend... it excelled at providing the nuanced microdynamic shadings that create a consistently engaging sonic picture ... it's a steal, a bargain, a best buy, and a no-brainer." - Michael Fremer, Stereophile, Recommended Components   Cambridge Audio Azur 740 Series Cambridge Audio has always been known for having amazing bang for the buck performance. They've now kicked it up to the next level with the award-winning 740 series. The amplifier is based on their "top of the line" 840 series and provides 100 watts of high current power to drive virtually any speaker. The 740A also includes support for multi-room use. By plugging in one or two external Cambridge Audio Incognito keypads (or Incognito active speakers) and a power supply unit, the 740A can become the hub of a simple multi-room system. As an additional facet, all Cambridge Audio remotes feature iPod™ Command – which means that basic iPod controls such as volume and track select can be controlled from the comfort of the user’s armchair. The cd player uses dual Wolfson WM8740 24-bit DACs and upsamples to 24-bit 384 kHz. The 740C is the first CD player at the price to provide upsampling technology, a benefit normally bestowed upon products costing up to six times as much. Key to the abilities of the 740C is ATF™ (Adaptive Time Filtering) an upsampling process developed in conjunction with Anagram Technologies of Switzerland. Now consider that you can own either of these for less than a thousand dollars. Check out the rave reviews by Hi Fi News, What Hi-Fi, Hi-Fi Choice, and Hi-Fi World.   Acoustic Zen Adagio Every January we make the trek out to the Las Vegas electronics show in search of audio nirvana. Out of the thousands of products that we see and hear, there is usually only a handful that really grabs our attention. In 2006, the Acoustic Zen Adagio loudspeaker was on everyone’s list. First, the speaker is just plain gorgeous. Its curved cabinets are veneered in several beautiful woods including Mappa bird’s eye or a figured red-wine maple and finished with several coats of hand rubbed clear lacquer. The speaker is a transmission line design using dual 6 ½ drivers of ceramic/fabric sandwich construction. Another unusual aspect of these drivers is the use of shortened, under-hung voice coils. This results in a dramatic decrease in decrease in distortion compared to conventional drivers. The tweeter is a specially modified circular ribbon which is said to have “exceptional dispersion, transient, and power handling capabilities.” As you might have guessed, the speaker sounds absolutely glorious. A recent reviewer in Absolute Sound had this to say: “These speakers are so good they’re difficult to write about. They make wonderful music.” Enough said. Conrad Johnson CT6 preamplifier “Introduced in the internationally acclaimed Anniversary Reference Triode (ART) preamplifier, and recently refined in their current flagship preamplifier, the ACT2, Conrad-Johnson’s composite triode circuit has provided the benchmark for line-stage preamplifier performance for nearly a decade. Reviewers, other audio professionals, and consumers alike have been impressed by the fine resolution of subtle shadings of dynamics and the solid, stable imaging that this circuit is capable of portraying. Conrad Johnson is pleased to announce their most affordable implementation of this circuit in the CT6 line-stage preamplifier.”