News - September - 2010

INDUSTRY NEWS

Key Digital HDMI cables

AV Specialists has been appointed distributors in South Africa for New York-based Key Digital’s HDMI cables. Founded by Mike Tsinberg in 1999, Key Digital is one of the pioneers of thelatest in video technology and since 2003 has applied theirexpertise to HDMI cables.

AV Specialists says Key Digital’s HDMI connectors exceeddemanding standards because all their cables meet the highest possible specification and standards of construction. Even with the HDMI 1.4 standard there are five different industry approved versions, and only two are suitable for 1080p and the HD Audio codecs. Each Key Digital HDMI cable has an individual serialnumber and is supplied with a certificate of compliance. Another useful feature is that Key Digital cables come in cost-saving nofrills packaging.

AV Specialists: 021-946-1441

STEREO COMPONENTS

A taste of high-end

Marantz has unveiled the new CD5004 CD player and PM5004 stereo amplifier that it says offers ‘a taste of high-end audio’ at competitive prices.

The CD transport in the CD5004 sits on a low-resonance, acousticallydamped, rigid chassis that minimises mechanical vibrations. The Cirrus Logic 24-bit/192 kHz DAC delivers accurate D/A conversion, resultingin low noise from CD, CD-R and CD-RW discs as well as MP3 and WMA files. Marantz’s ‘Hyper Dynamic Amplifier Modules’ replace single chip, ‘off-the-shelf’ Op-Amps and operate as a buffer amplifier and as a Low Pass Filter. Coaxial and optical digital outputs and CD-Text that provides artist, album title and track name information, and a headphone socket with level adjustment, complete the package.

The remote controlled PM5004 amplifier delivers 55 watts perchannel. It features five line inputs, a MM phono stage, tone controls with bypass, balance control, two sets of speaker terminals and aheadphone socket. The signal paths are short, direct and mirror imaged, and provide precise, improved stereo imaging. The chassis is designed for low resonance, is acoustically damped, and has a robust chassis.

Both units are available in either black or silver/gold finishes.

HFX Systems: 011-869-0135

AV RECEIVERS

Custom installation capable

Sherbourn’s new SR-120 receiver provides a range of multimedia features, custom installation capabilities, room calibration and video adjustment features. The Class A/B discrete power amplifier delivers 125 watts into each of the front and centre channels, while 75 watts is available for each of the side and rear channels. The analogue power supply features a massive toroidal transformer.

Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital True HD, Dolby PLIIx, DTS, DTSES, DTS HD, DTS Master Audio, DTS Neo 6, SPDIF and PCM 8 channel are all supported. In addition, all legacy video inputs can be scaled and output over HDMI at up to 1080p 1080p/24 fps.

Twin Cirrus 32-bit dual core DSPs provide precise signal management and high resolution audio. Also featured is HDMI 1.3b compliance, intuitive on-screen control and an ST-Genesis Torino high performance scaling engine with Vixen software. Faroujda DCDi processing enhances the video experience. Sherbourn’s room EQ lets you personalise each speaker with the eleven-band equaliser and crossover and trim adjustment. The onscreen display can be accessed while viewing and lets you adjust the contrast.

Avation: 011-835-3070

SUBWOOFERS

How form follows function

Paradigm launched its Seismic110 subwoofer at CEDIA in 2009. Dubbed the ‘Bulldog’, it offers ground shaking performance with low distortion from a split-coil woofer driven by an 850 watt RMS Class D amplifier. According to Paradigm, the Seismic 110 is a collaboration between their industrial, mechanical, electronic and acoustical design teams and has no off-the-shelf parts, but is custom built to showcase how form follows function.

The exterior shell is a die-cast monocoque design that forms anintegrated package with the woofer tucked inside. The driver features an FEA optimised motor structure with integral heat sinking, which when coupled to the shell ensure a cool running, high output woofer. The 25 cm cone is capable of 5 cm of travel that delivers deep bass. The optional PBK-1 Paradigm Perfect Bass Kit analyses the Seismic 110’s response in any room environment and sets the correctequalisation parameters to optimise the sound.

The Seismic 110 measures only 30 cm high, but Paradigm claims that the unique split-coil woofer coupled with the amplifier are capable of delivering 1 500 watts RMS continuous and a 2 550 watts dynamic peak.

Audio Specialists: 031-767-3042

CABLES

Refresh your connections

Hicon is a division of Sommer Cable, a German company specialising in connection systems. Broadcast Lines now imports the Hicon Hi-Fi and Home cable range that comprises DisplayPort, HDMI, RCA/phono, Scart, YUV-RGB, SAT/antenna cables, adapters, connectors and more. The range is separated into the ‘Ergonomic’ series, described as the ‘standard consumer range’ and comes with a five-year function guarantee. The ‘Ambience’ series is designed for home theatreaficionados and comes with a functional guarantee of ten years.

The Ergonomic series features 5 µm gold plating, oxygen-free (OFC class 4) copper cabling and dual-screening. The Ambience series features HF radiation-proof metal shells, oxygen-free (OFC class 6) copper cabling, 10 µm hard gold plated connectors and triple- or multi-screened wires. A useful connection guide comes with each product.

Broadcast Lines also offers spools of speaker cable for each of the series with a range of loose connectors for DIY cable assemblies.

Broadcast Lines: 021-552-1490