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.

It's that time of year again, hi fi magazines and audio publications handing out their Best of 2011 gear awards.

Flicking through the latest issue of Tone magazine, we were pleasantly surprised to discover they had awarded our Audiant 80i Integrated Amplifier "Best Stereo Amplifier" in the 2011 Best of the Year Tone Awards.

It's fantastic to have the hours of hard-work and dedication that went into making the Audiant 80i a reality recognised and rewarded in this way.

The 80i continues to be enjoyed and well-reviewed around the World, recently we received a letter from an ecstatic and very proud owner of an Audiant 80i integrated amplifier who writes:

“The sound is truly astonishing. The clarity and definition is extraordinary. On occasions, the sound is actually too good – one now hears the imperfections – the click of a piano pedal, or the performer's breathing.”

“Enough gushing. Thanks so much for reinvigorating my music...”

Receiving 'Best of the Year' awards are flattering and it's nice to have industry recognition, but it's the feedback and 'Thank you' letters like this that really make us smile.

Many thanks to Tone magazine for awarding the Audiant 80i Best Stereo Amplifier in 2011, to AB (you know who you are) for choosing Perreaux to rediscover your music, and to the many others who send us letters of thanks – you are why we're in this game.

This weekend, October 1-2, the Paris High End Show 2011 is taking place as part of Salon de la HiFi et du Home Cinema at the Hotel Pullman – Paris Rive Gauche.

Our distributor for France, DEA International, will be exhibiting Perreaux alongside a selection of their other lines, including Thorens turntables and Canton loudspeakers.

The DEA International stand is located in 'Club 1' and 'Club 2' on the mezzanine.  Drop by and check out what Paskal and the DEA International team are demonstrating.

The show is open from 10am-7pm both Saturday and Sunday.  Entry is only €15.00.  So get along, support the show, and the industry, and check out some great hi fi while you're at it.

Have a good weekend...

Malaysia's premier audio visual show, The KL International AV Show, takes place on 29-31 July 2011 at The JW Marriot Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Our Audiant 80i & éloquence 150i integrated amplifiers, as well as our Silhouette SXH2 headphone amp and SXV2 phono preamplifier, will be available for demonstration throughout the show courtesy of Electrades Audio, the exclusive Perreaux distributor for Malaysia.

The Audiant 80i and éloquence 150i amplifiers will be demonstrated with various loudspeakers from UK company Spendor.

Head along to room 7037 and say 'Hi' to Shashi from Electrades Audio.  He'll be more than happy to demonstrate the capabilities of the Audiant 80i and éloquence 150i and their on-board DACs and phono stages.

Unfortunately we're not able to attend the show, but we'd love to hear from anybody who does attend and their impressions of it.

Last week brought a delightful new tone to the Perreaux dynamic. My role as account manager lead me to visit a new distributor in the tremendous city of Melbourne, Australia. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. The gentlemen at Midas AV have partnered with Perreaux to pounce on the ever expanding Australian market. Combining their dedication to superior sound and their depth of knowledge in hi fi, with the range of equipment at their disposal, the sky isn't the limit – Nick, Louie and Stan can create a system that will push you clear through the clouds.

I have sat in front of some fairly astonishing set ups. Earlier this year in Las Vegas I heard Wilson loudspeakers, a full McIntosh system and a pair of Vivid Giya powered by a top line Luxman. Financially these stereo are the things of dreams. Only the most affluent need even consider. In Melbourne I heard a stereo that, while a stretch, could well find a way into my house. If only I could convince my significant other that it was worth it. All I need to do is get her on a plane to Melbourne. Sit her in the upstairs demo room that has a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 800 powered by a mighty Perreaux Prisma 350 power amp, SM6 MkII pre and CD1 CD player. I am certain even my highly discerning better half would not be able to deny the revelatory experience provided by this stereo.

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Perreaux distributor for The Netherlands, YN Audio, is exhibiting at the Café Engels Show 2011 in Rotterdam on 16th & 17th April.

YN Audio will be demonstrating our Audiant 80i integrated amplifier alongside other lines they represent like Robson Acoustics loudspeakers and Black Rhodium cables.

The first 600 visitors to the Café Engels Show will receive a free CD mastered and produced by STS Digital.

The Café Engels Show is being run in parallel with the popular De Doelen Lente Hi-Fi Show and is only a 10 minute walk away.

It's shaping up to be an exciting weekend of hi-fi in Rotterdam on 16th & 17th April. With two shows on at the same time and in the same place, you'd be crazy to miss it.

So do stop by and introduce yourself to Michiel of YN Audio and experience the Audiant 80i for yourself.

Our Taiwan distributor, Sheng-Kai Co., is currently exhibiting our Prisma and Audiant lines at the Kaohsiung International Hi-End Audio Show.

The show is already under way and runs until 21 March at the Ambassador Hotel, 202 Min Sheng 2nd Rd., Kaohsiung.

Please stop by room 543 and introduce yourself to Jeff Lin, of Sheng-Kai Co., he will be more than happy to demonstrate both the Prisma and Audiant lines.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Perreaux Appoints Sound Venture as UK Distributor

Leading home audio manufacturer Perreaux appoints specialist hi-fi distributor Sound Venture as their exclusive distribution partner in the United Kingdom.

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (March 17, 2011) – Perreaux, New Zealand based manufacturer of legendary hi-fi and home audio systems, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sound Venture as their exclusive UK distributor, responsible for the sales, marketing, service and support of the full range of Perreaux products.

Commenting on the news, Perreaux Managing Director Martin van Rooyen said; "We are extremely pleased to have secured the services of Sound Venture as our UK distributor. They are an experienced and focused distribution company with the X factor we were looking for.  I am confident the strength of their sales and marketing will propel Perreaux successes to another level".

Gary Cargill, Sound Venture's Managing Director added, "Without doubt, the key to being a successful distributor is to have great products to sell. We are excited to be partnering with a prestigious brand such as Perreaux.  They are a perfect fit with our existing portfolio, and offer consumers leading edge performance without breaking the bank."

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The passionate guys over at Audio Emotion in the UK are so excited about our Audiant 80i that they're giving away a free Squeezebox Touch with every unit bought for a limited time.

Audio Emotion are a recent addition to our worldwide dealer network and are super excited to add Perreaux to the mix, alongside other high-end offerings such as Verity, Audio Physic and MBL.

Audio Emotion Ltd. is a family business based in Fife, Scotland – brothers Gary and Mark Cargill are both music lovers at heart. Both are keen musicians; with Gary keeping his neighbours up at night with his Saxophone playing, and Mark often found strumming the chords to Smoke on the Water whenever he has the chance. Gary was also previously an electronics engineer for Marconi Instruments, which he says has been “quite handy” at the shop over the years... I’m sure it has!!

Their shop offers over 2000 sq. ft. of audio indulgence, with a huge cross-section of equipment always on display for demonstration.

In regard to their appointment as Perreaux dealers, Gary said:

“We are understandably delighted to have been awarded the Perreaux brand, as it offers the potential client something very, very unique from a very forward-thinking audio manufacturer – one only needs to look at the new groundbreaking Audiant 80i integrated amplifier: 80Wpc, MOSFET output, high-current toroidal power supply, exceptional build, host of digital inputs feeding an upsampling DAC, iTunes control, and built-in phono stage; to understand why reviewers worldwide have waxed lyrical in regard to it's real world performance – our new stock is arriving in the next few days, and our diary is already full with customers desperate to audition!! – Given it's price and wonderful musicality I can fully understand the excitement”

It's evident Gary and Mark are pumped to have Perreaux, check out the full-page advert about to drop in the major UK publications. Plus, they totally get what the Audiant 80i is about. Audition one today and take them up on their offer of a free Squeezebox Touch.

Kinetic Audio, Perreaux distributor for China and Hong Kong, is exhibiting the Audiant 80i integrated amplifier at the Shanghai International High-End Hi-Fi Show this weekend. The show runs from March 4th to March 6th and is being held at the Pullman Skyway Hotel, 15 Dapu Road, Shanghai.

Raymond Cho, of Kinetic Audio, has been impressed with his time with the Audiant 80i and is very excited about this opportunity to demonstrate the integrated amp to the public. He's even gone to the extent of designing this beautiful advertisement, which I understand is to be included in the show booklet.

Anyhow, if you're in Shanghai over the weekend, stop by the show and check it out. We don't have the room number or details on hand at the moment, but feel free to email Raymond at whcho@kineticent.com.hk or call (852) 2949 9991 if you're interested in witnessing the Audiant 80i for yourself.

Edit: Kinetic Audio are exhibiting in room 822.

Edit: Feedback from the show has been positive.