Being January, it's time for Las Vegas to get busy with CES and T.H.E. Show. This year we're super excited to be unveiling a brand new digital and analogue preamplifier in our Audiant range of audio components.

The new Audiant DAC Preamp features the latest Sabre³² Reference 32-bit DAC from ESS Technology and utilises fully balanced preamplifier circuitry from input to output.

Featuring 24-bit/192kHz asynchronous USB, an AES/EBU digital input and balanced XLR analogue inputs; the Audiant DAC Preamp is equipped to deliver a transparent and engaging sonic performance.

With dynamic range exceeding 140dB the Audiant DAC Preamplifier is a leader in its class, but more importantly, it allows the full potential of high definition 24-bit recordings to be realised.

Ultra-low total harmonic distortion ensures fine details are accurately resolved, providing new levels of clarity and precision afforded by 24-bit/192kHz recordings.

Add other aspects – including I²S re-clocking, discrete shunt regulators, direct coupled signal path and an estimated retail price of US$2995; and it's clear the Audiant DAC Preamp offers unsurpassed performance in this category.

Check out the Audiant DAC Preamplifier datasheet for a full run-down of features and specifications.

Come along to T.H.E. Show, room 4060 of the Flamingo Hotel, and audition the Audiant DAC Preamp yourself and witness firsthand why we are so excited by our new digital and analogue preamplifier.

Blow the cobwebs off your records one last time...

You've searched every CD bin in every music store known to man, scoured the darkest corners of the internet, and still can't find that elusive digital recording of your favourite LP.

Frustrated at not being able to take your record collection with you on your daily jog in the park? Besides having enough music to last 1000 jogs in the park, you'd look pretty daft dragging crate-loads of vinyl behind you.

Whether you're after a digital version of a favourite LP, mobilising your record collection with your iPod or other MP3 player, or simply would like to digitally preserve your entire library of vinyl for eternity; the digital to analogue converter (DAC) module for the éloquence 150i and éloquence 250i integrated amplifiers makes digitising your vinyl a painless process, while providing CD-quality recording.

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Now that the Silhouette series is complete, it's a good time to look at what it can offer. From the inception of the series, our focus has always been on extracting every last grain of detail and to provide the highest level of performance available.

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The Silhouette SXD2 USB DAC was reviewed by Paul Miller in the July 2006 issue of UK magazine ‘Hi-Fi News’. His appraisal inspired these words:

“The first thing you’ll notice about it’s sound is the delicacy, a lightness of touch that’s just perfect at capturing the rise and decay of percussion.”

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AudioEnz, New Zealand’s own online hi-fi magazine, has recently reviewed the Silhouette SXD2 USB DAC.

The SXD2 inspired these words from Matthew Masters:

“With the Perreaux in place, what had been merely acceptable became quite impressive. The soft and inoffensive sound that normally emerges from the iMac was replaced by something altogether more dynamic. Suddenly the detail that had been missing, returned.”

Feel free to read the SXD2 review in its entirety.

One of New Zealand’s most respected audio reviewers Martin Bell has recently reviewed the Perreaux SX25i Integrated Amplifier and SXD2 USB DAC. To follow are a few excerpts:

SX25i Integrated Amplifier:

“Adding the SX25i was a real ear opener. I was stunned by the quality of sound emanating from Perreaux’s pint-sized powerhouse; it didn’t just sound good, it sounded great.”

“The baby Perreaux’s 25 watts are delivered with vim and verve — so much so that it makes most 100-watt-plus leviathans sound bloated and ponderous.”

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Hi Fi retailers come in many forms. We have had a long standing relationship with John Ransley from Totally Wired in Dunedin. We would characterize John as the thinking mans hi fi retailer. John recently solved a problem using the Silhouette SX25i Integrated Amplifier and SXD2 USB DAC. We liked his novel approach and felt that it was worthy of mention.

John writes:

“I’ve got two big frustrations with most multi-room systems - their complexity and their musical compromise. You would think it a simple matter to get music from one room to another but often we get tangled up in long, lossy and hum inducing analogue cable runs. There should be a better way.

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