Premiere Design

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Premiere Design
Max Klimax
Scott Wilkinson  |  Oct 14, 2009

I've always had a certain fondness for <A href="http://www.linn.co.uk">Linn</A>, a high-end audio company based in Glasgow, Scotland. Perhaps it's because the company is located in my namesake country, or maybe it's the clever, Ikea-like product names. More likely, it's because Linn has been making exceptional audiophile products for over 35 years, starting in 1972 with the Sondek LP12 turntable, which is now the longest-lived hi-fi component still in production. Of more recent vintage is the flagship Klimax speaker system presented here.

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Premiere Design
MBL 101E Mk II Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 16, 2010

Over a year ago, I profiled the amazing 101 X-treme speaker system from MBL. If you don't have a quarter-million dollars or a floor capable of supporting its 3600-pound bulk, consider the newly refined 101E Mk II.

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Premiere Design
MBL 101E Mk II Speaker
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 16, 2010

Over a year ago, I profiled the amazing 101 X-treme speaker system from MBL. If you don't have a quarter-million dollars or a floor capable of supporting its 3600-pound bulk, consider the newly refined 101E Mk II.

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Premiere Design
MBL 1621A CD Transport & 1611F DAC
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jan 27, 2011
MBL has its fingers in just about every audiophile pie there is, from CD players and DACs to preamps and integrated amps to power amps and speakers to cables, racks, and speaker stands. In terms of source devices, the company's ne plus ultra is the 1621A CD transport and 1611F digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
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Premiere Design
MBL Noble System at T.H.E. Show
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 07, 2011
In addition to the Reference system I wrote about a few weeks ago, MBL also showed its mid-range Noble line in an adjoining room at T.H.E. Show in Newport Beach, CA, last month. I must say, this more moderate setup fit the funky hotel room better than the bigger system next door.
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Premiere Design
MBL Reference System at T.H.E. Show
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 14, 2011
Even though hotel rooms are not the best environment to show off high-end audio products, some companies managed to achieve a mighty impressive sound at T.H.E. Show in Newport Beach, CA. Among them was MBL, which set up two systems in adjoining rooms. My first stop was the room with the flagship Reference system, including two 101E MkII speakers ($70,500/pair, profiled here) and two 9011 monoblock power amps, which generate 750 watts per channel and cost a staggering $53,000 each.
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New ProductsPremiere Design
McIntosh MA8000 Integrated Amplifier
Bob Ankosko  |  Jan 23, 2014
The audio world has undergone dramatic change since stacks of McIntosh amplifiers powered the iconic Woodstock Festival in 1969. One thing that hasn’t changed much is the signature VU meter that’s become synonymous with McIntosh Labs, which has been making high-performance audio gear since 1949 when Frank McIntosh set out to build a better amplifier. His legacy lives on behind the glowing meters that adorn the elegant glass faceplate of Mac’s latest masterpiece, the MA8000 integrated amplifier.
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Premiere Design
McIntosh MT5 Turntable
Bob Ankosko  |  Mar 15, 2017
Go ahead, take a few seconds to savor the radiant splendor of the McIntosh MT5. Rolling Stone dubbed it "The Turntable of the Gods." Fitting, indeed, for one of the most striking turntables you'll encounter. Beyond the hypnotic allure of its mirror finish and luminous platter—not to mention the conversation it's sure to stimulate—you'll find a precision device that treats cherished albums with the respect they deserve, while extracting the goosebump-inducing nuances that define your passion for vinyl.
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Premiere Design
McIntosh MVP881 Universal Blu-ray Player
Scott Wilkinson  |  Feb 25, 2010

Considering all the recent brouhaha about the $3500 Lexicon BD-30 actually being a rebranded Oppo BDP-83 (list price $500), I was suspicious when I saw a CES press release introducing the MVP881 universal disc player from <A href="http://www.mcintoshlabs.com">McIntosh Laboratory</A>. But then I read that the MVP881 uses the HQV Realta video processor, whereas the Oppo/Lexicon uses VRS from Anchor Bay, so it can't be another more-expensive knock-off.

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Premiere Design
Meridian 810 4K Projector at T.H.E. Show
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 09, 2011
Video demos were mighty scarce at T.H.E. Show last week. One notable exception was located in a ballroom hosted by Digital Ear, a high-end dealer in Tustin, CA. The centerpiece of the demo system was the 810 4K D-ILA projector from Meridian (profiled here) in its first public showing.
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Premiere Design
Meridian DSP7200 Digital Active Speaker
Bob Ankosko  |  Aug 31, 2013
Sonic Splendor

Timing is everything when it comes to great comedy—and great sound. And time alignment is one of several refinements Meridian has made to the popular DSP7200 tower speaker it introduced in 2007—one of the most technologically advanced speakers on the planet. But before we get into what the company has done to improve this already remarkable speaker, let’s take a quick look at what makes it special in the first place.

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Premiere Design
Meridian Sooloos Control 15 Audio Server & MS600 Client
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jul 26, 2010

Long scoffed at by audiophiles, music servers are now gaining widespread acceptance for their convenience and sound quality. Among the most highly regarded products in this category is Sooloos from British high-end stalwart Meridian, which just announced two new members of the Sooloos family—the Control 15 server and Media Source 600 client.

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Premiere Design
Metronome Kalista CD Transport
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 26, 2010  |  First Published: May 27, 2010

Most CD players and transports are relatively featureless, boring rectangular boxes, but not the Kalista from French boutique maker <A href="http://www.metronome-technologie.com">Metronome Technologie</A>. Distributed in the US by <A href="http://tmhaudio.com">TMH Audio</A>, the Kalista looks more like a modern sculpture, though it offers plenty of substance in addition to some serious style.

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Premiere Design
Midnight Sun
Scott Wilkinson  |  Aug 17, 2009

Norway somehow seems an odd place to find a high-end projector manufacturer. Yet there in the town of Fredrikstad&#151;founded in 1567 at the mouth of the Glomma River an hour's train ride south of Oslo&#151;<A href="http://www.projectiondesign.com">Projectiondesign</A> not only designs and manufactures high-end DLP projectors under its own name, but also for companies like Christie, one of several providers of DLP projectors for the commercial digital-cinema market. Last year, the company introduced its <A href="http://www.avielo.com">Avielo</A> line, including the flagship Helios, which puts out enough light to compete with the midnight sun.

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Premiere Design
Million-Dollar Media Room
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 13, 2009

Unless you're a serious audiophile, you might not know the name <A href="http://www.goldmund.com">Goldmund</A>. After 30 years making ultra-high-end audio components, this Swiss company is expanding into the realm of home theater. But if you think it's simply offering projectors and surround-sound systems, think again. When you contact Goldmund to discuss home theater, you'll be talking about a <I>complete</I> media room that the company will design, build, equip, and calibrate from beginning to end.

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