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Tight Squeeze
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 02, 2009  |  First Published: Nov 03, 2009  | 

What do you get if you cross Japanese audio acumen with daring Italian design? The Squeezophone 360, that's what. Born out of a collaboration between <A href="http://www.kenwooddesign.com">Kenwood Design</A> and <A href="http://www.colucci-design.com">Claudio Colucci Design</A>, this concept speaker cuts a dashing figure as it pumps sound all around the room.

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Tons of Fun
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 07, 2009  | 
Unlike many high-end manufacturers that concentrate on one type of product, MBL casts a wider net. For three decades, this German company has developed super-sophisticated—and super-expensive—speakers, power amps, preamps, integrated amps, optical-disc players, and D/A converters. At the top of its speaker heap is the 101 X-treme, a stunning sonic and visual masterpiece.
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Torus Power WM60 Power Conditioner
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 11, 2010  | 
As I was cruising the aisles at last week's Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention, I happened upon this huge toroidal power transformer from Plitron, which makes power products for professional and consumer A/V systems under the Torus Power brand name. (Thanks to former Stereophile writer Barry Willis, who generously offered his shoe to provide a sense of scale in this photo.)
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Totally Tubular
Scott Wilkinson  |  Dec 24, 2009  | 

Many audiophiles love vacuum tube-based components for their warm analog sound. <A href="http://www.einstein-audio.de">Einstein Audio</A> of Germany understands this well, as demonstrated by the introduction of The Tube MKII 2-channel preamp at CES next month.

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Trenner & Friedl Duke Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 20, 2011  | 
As always, there was no shortage of ultra-high-end speakers at CES this year. Among the most impressive was the magnificent Duke from Austrian speaker maker Trenner & Friedl.
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True Stereo
Scott Wilkinson  |  Dec 29, 2009  | 

Most consumers would probably apply the word "stereo" exclusively to 2-channel audio systems. So you might be surprised to learn that "stereo" has nothing to do with the number 2 per se—it derives from the Greek word for "solid." The word was applied to 2-channel sound systems when they first became available because those systems rendered a much more "solid" sonic image with more specific placement of individual elements (instruments, voices, etc.) than the monaural systems that had preceded them. Similarly, 5.1 surround systems are far more "stereo" than 2-channel systems.

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True Stereo: Forget 5.1--How About 304.8?
Scott Wilkinson, Len Porcano 2  |  Jul 13, 2010  | 
Most consumers would probably apply the word "stereo" exclusively to 2-channel audio systems. So you might be surprised to learn that "stereo" has nothing to do with the number 2 per se—it derives from the Greek word for "solid." The word was applied to 2-channel sound systems when they first became available because those systems rendered a much more "solid" sonic image with more specific placement of individual elements (instruments, voices, etc.) than the monaural systems that had preceded them. Similarly, 5.1 surround systems are far more "stereo" than 2-channel systems.
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TuneAudio Anima Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 04, 2010  | 
Usually, I have to go looking for interesting products to feature here in Ultimate Gear, but this one came to me in an e-mail from its Greek maker, TuneAudio. The company's flagship Anima speaker features three horn-loaded drivers, including a 15-inch, downfiring woofer in a base that stands over five feet tall.
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TV as Sculpture?
Bob Ankosko  |  Apr 14, 2015  | 
Samsung S9W Ultra HDTV

I tried to imagine the S9W at home but quickly realized my rustic family room is no match for its art-gallery vibe. Although I have to admit, when I first laid eyes on its magnificent 82-inch Ultra HD screen with its cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio, I wondered why it was perched, just shy of teetering, on a compact refrigerator. Refreshments at hand, perhaps? No, that wasn’t it. (Not even close, knucklehead.)

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Ultra Style: Samsung Serif Smart TV
Bob Ankosko  |  Nov 10, 2016  | 
Once again, Samsung has partnered with a noted industrial designer to rethink modern TV. Last year it was the magnificent S9W, an ultra-wide 21:9 TV designed by Yves Béhar. This year it’s the modestly sized (and priced) Serif TV, created in collaboration with the Parisian design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.
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Ultrasone Edition 10 Headphones
Scott Wilkinson  |  Nov 08, 2010  | 
The Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention isn't concerned with consumer products, but there's always a bit of crossover with the pro-audio items on display. For example, at last week's annual conclave in San Francisco, I found a new top-of-the-line headphone from Germany's Ultrasone. The Edition 10 is the company's first model in the Edition lineup to feature an open-back design, which took the company two years to develop. Also new to the Edition 10 is an oxygen-free copper (OFC), silver-plated, Kevlar-reinforced cable that can be easily configured for balanced or unbalanced connectors.
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Ultrawide LCD
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 17, 2009  |  First Published: Mar 18, 2009  | 

If CES 2009 was any indication, it looked like Philips was getting out of the consumer-electronics business, seeing as how the company had no booth or press conference this year. We know for sure it won't be selling TVs in North America, having reached a deal whereby Japanese electronics manufacturer Funai will market Philips and Magnavox TVs in the US and Canada while Philips concentrates on Europe and key emerging countries.

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Veloce LS-1 Battery-Powered Preamp
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 23, 2010  | 

AC power has long been the bugaboo of high-end audio&#151;necessary to power the electronics, but prone to polluting the audio signal path with unwanted noise. American boutique manufacturer <A href="http://www.veloceaudio.us">Veloce Audio</A> has come up with a unique and elegant solution to this problem in its LS-1 vacuum-tube preamp&#151;put the power supply and audio electronics in completely separate boxes and run the electronics with a rechargeable battery.

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Verity Amadis Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 28, 2010  | 
This year's Rocky Mountain Audio Fest saw the introduction of many new products, including the Amadis speaker from Verity Audio. The 3-way Amadis is third in Verity's speaker lineup and continues the design philosophy of placing a rear-firing woofer in a completely separate, ported enclosure.
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Verity Audio Lohengrin II Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Sep 02, 2010  | 
Canada-based Verity Audio has been making high-end speakers for 25 years, culminating in the flagship Lohengrin. Now in its second generation, this impressive speaker tops the company's eXR (extended-range) lineup.
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