Digital Trends

SIMAUDIO

Simaudio, Ltd. has introduced the Moon i-7 Integrated Amplifier.  It is a fully-balanced dual-mono design that produces high-current rock-solid 150-watts per channel into 8 ohms with no sonic colorations.  It uses "Class A" amplification power.  Simaudio has provided a custom proprietary toroidal transformer design with lower magnetic, electric, and thermal loss that yields an improved power transfer and a lower regulation factor.  For more accurate tonal musical reproduction, the company has added their proprietary "Lynx" circuitry.  The Moon i-7 has features an "M-Lock" circuit for "user selectable" maximum volume, setting lock-out for each line input.  Each line input is also configurable to be "home theater ready," where the preamplifier section of the i-7 is bypassed.  A 12v trigger is included for remote operations.  The Moon i-7 will be available in August at a price of $4,500.

Simaudio Moon i-7

MOSCODE

Who said that tube technology was dead?  Moscode has introduced their new 401HR Stereo Amplifier that features 200 watts of advanced hybrid tube technology.  This powerful and refined 401HR delivers crisp, dynamic, and musical 200-watts per channel of sound using a classic tube driver stage coupled to MOSFET power outputs.  It's presented in a handsome chassis with enclosed heatsinks and sexy drop-down front panel for easy access to the tubes.  You can use the factory-supplied tube pairs or literally tune the sound by changing the driver tubes.  The 401HR incorporates every circuit refinement that the company has made over the last 20 years for the many Moscode 300s still out there. According to the manufacturer, the new 401HR is a powerful, nuanced and engaging amplifier; it entices you into the music.  It also features an attractive but discreet edge-lit logo in the tube window that changes color depending on operating status.  And, for those of you out there who are power mad, a mono switch parallels the inputs for easy vertical bi-amping.  Available with either a silver or black face plate, the 401HR Stereo Amplifier is currently at retail. The 401HR Stereo Amplifier carries a price of $4,995." 

Moscode 401HR Amplifier

ELP LASER TURNTABLE

While most like to think that vinyl records are passé, many people still wane lovingly over their record collections.  Digital compact discs are not the only way to listen to music, and Gramophone records have been produced since Edison's phonograph.   Unfortunately, there have always been numerous problems with turntables; the mechanical belts, phono cartridges, and the needles wear out and scratch the records.  With Elp Corporation's new laser turntable, it has blasted vinyl record technology into the 21^st century by beaming a laser onto the record grooves so that there is no physical contract whatsoever with the record.  It is the only analog record player that does not wear records.  Musical information is processed in analog, and all circuitry is analog as well for completely analog sound reproduction.  It connects to any phono pre-amplifier producing audiophile quality sound in either mono or stereo. 

The laser turntable can play 7-, 8.5-, 10-, 11-, and 12-in. diameter records.  It can playback 33-1/3, 45, and 78 rpm records.  There's also a variable speed control in 30-50 rpm in 0.1 rpm steps, and 60-90 rpm in 0.2 rpm steps.  There are a total of five lasers:  two for the left and right groove walls, two for tracking groove pitch, and one for tracking groove warp.  No adjustment is required for anti-skate, and it uses linear tracking to zero tracking error distortion.  Since the optical pickup is controlled by microprocessors, the laser turntable operates much like a CD player with cueing to individual cuts, random access, and repeat play, and it offers numerous programming possibilities.  The laser turntable displays elapsed/remaining or total time just like a CD player.  Model LT-1LRC plays 45s and LPs, and is priced at $14,999.  Model LT-1XRC plays 45s, LPs, and 78s, and is priced at $16,999.  Lastly, model LT-2XRC plays 45s, LPs, and 78s of any size, and is priced at $18,999.

ELP Laser Turntable