Category: General

Many audiophiles consider amplifiers based on the antiquated vacuum tube to be sonically superior to transistor-based amplifier. And of course, there can be no denying the tube’s basic retro appeal.

Exploring the world of high-end audio may seem daunting to those without technological savoir-faire, but the S-300i makes it easy. Simply connect a few sources (like a CD player and radio tuner) and a pair of quality speakers, and you have an unintimidating yet fantastic-sounding audio system.

There is no easier way to get better sound from your iPod than ordering the hf5. This in-ear headphone sounds dramatically and obviously better than the iPod’s stock headphones, delivering immensely greater detail, much more satisfying bass, and effective isolation from environmental noise.

This audio system combines the timeless aesthetics and craftsmanship of a Steinway grand piano with the digital wizardry of renowned audio designer Peter Lyngdorf. Two seven-foot-tall speakers, each powered by 400 watts of digital amplification, source sound from a pedestal-mounted CD player and other audio sources.

The Ferrari Art.Engine is surely the most extravagant and accomplished compact audio system to date.

The Krell Evolution 707 may represent the first truly high-end product designed to meet the technical demands of the dazzling new Blu-ray movie discs. The ,000 Evolution 707 surround-sound processor serves as the “brain” of an elite home theater audio system. It can decode all of Blu-ray’s advanced surround-sound formats, including Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. It also upconverts all incoming video signals to 1080p resolution and outputs them through its HDMI 1.3 digital video circuitry to ensure that all of the movies, TV shows, and even home videos you watch will look their best. Although any audio amplifiers can be used with the Evolution 707, it is best mated with Krell’s own Evolution amps. The processor can be linked to the amps through Krell’s proprietary Current Audio Signal Transmission (CAST) technology, which the company says eliminates signal degradation caused by cabling. (203.298.4000, www.krellonline.com)

—Brent Butterworth

When it comes to photography, Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad is the alpha and the omega. Originally established in the mid-19th century during the early developmental stages of the camera itself, the company will release a digital single-lens reflex camera in October. It epitomizes high-quality picture taking by generating a 50-megapixel image resolution. Hasselblad’s H3DII-50 is the company’s fifth-generation medium-format camera and will deliver 33 captures per minute and produce image files as large as 150 megabytes. The ,995 camera will house a two-gigabyte CompactFlash card capable of holding 30 images. The camera will offer users the ability to capture images from eye- or waist-level with interchangeable viewfinders. Hasselblad’s Natural Color Solution and Moiré Removal technologies—not to mention the company’s vast array of software and accessories—grant users the capabilities necessary to capture images as a professional would, regardless of experience. (www.hasselbladusa.com)

—Bailey S. Barnard

Streaming MP3 music from a computer to multiple rooms of your home is easy—except that it requires a computer. Until now. With the Philips Streamium Wireless Music Center, no computer is necessary. Slide in a CD and the Streamium copies it onto its internal hard drive. From there, it can be played on the base station or on as many as five wireless extension units in other rooms. Color display screens on the base station and extension units allow easy browsing of your music collection by artist, genre, album, and song title. The screens also allow access to full-color album art and Internet radio stations. In the base stations and the extensions, Philips’ Super Sound Panel speaker technology delivers midrange and treble frequencies right through the units’ transparent front panels, and a woofer provides extra bass. A single base station with one extension unit retails for 9; additional extension units are 9 each. (888.PHILIPS, www.philips.com)

—Brent Butterworth

Audio enthusiasts revere electrostatic speakers, even though the rest of humanity seems baffled by these tall but slender creations. The best-known proponent of electrostatic speakers is MartinLogan, which celebrates its 1983 founding with the ,000-per-pair MartinLogan 25th Anniversary CLX. Like other electrostatics, the CLX eschews the usual cone woofers and dome tweeters in favor of a large polyester membrane of vanishingly low mass; many audiophiles feel the lightweight diaphragm better reproduces the faint details of high-quality recordings. However, while most electrostatics rely on a conventional woofer to reproduce bass tones, the CLX uses electrostatic panels exclusively. This unusual configuration ensures that bass instruments and deep-voiced singers receive the same natural reproduction as higher-pitched tones. The 25th Anniversary CLX has an aluminum frame, while the standard CLX has a veneered frame and retails for ,000 per pair. (785.749.0133, www.martinlogan.com)

—Brent Butterworth

In July, Danish camera manufacturer Phase One announced a new camera that will surely be one of the most highly sought after professional-grade digital cameras when it hits the market by the end of this year. Phase One’s P65+ is the world’s first digital camera based on actual full-frame medium film format. It captures images with an astounding 60.5-megapixel resolution, creating files as large as 180 megabytes and at speeds as quick as one frame per second. With an image viewing screen nearly two square inches in size, the ,990 P65+ provides the largest live-capture digital back available—a feature for which Phase One cameras are known. Established in 1993 by a Danish inventor, Phase One is a household name amongst professional photographers, though discerning amateurs are quickly catching on. (www.phaseone.com)

—Bailey S. Barnard

Photo credit: Peter Svenson