Displaying items by tag: powersupply - StereoLife Magazine

Naim Audio launched in 1973 with a simple aim - to experience music replayed in its truest and purest possible form. That meant pushing the boundaries of what is viable, applying an obsessive attention to detail in the pursuit of musical authenticity. Half a century on, its end goal still starts with the music that moves us; an unwavering line from the first Naim products to the creation of the New Classic range: the NSC 222 streaming pre-amplifier; an allnew iteration of the iconic NAP 250 power amplifier; the NPX 300 power supply upgrade. Each boasts more features - including balanced connections - without sacrificing sound quality. Designed and engineered by specialists in England, the New Classic range is handcrafted with care and built to last. Sophisticated yet simple to use, these timeless products aim to bring you years of listening pleasure. There are also a range of ways to integrate these new products with existing Naim models.

Internationally acclaimed, high-end audio brand Cyrus Audio announces the most intelligent power supply it has ever designed; the long-awaited PSU-XR. The PSU-XR is the first power supply from Cyrus to have its own built-in microprocessor, enabling it to talk to the product it is connected to, providing the best configuration of power sources demanded by the host product. "The PSU-XR is our best performing power supply, capable of providing up to 60% more power than the award-winning PSX-R2 and, due to its revolutionary design, is up to 50% more efficient." - says Ceri Williamson, Head of R&D at Cyrus Audio.

Gryphon Audio Designs announced its most advanced preamplifier available. Since Gryphon's founding nearly 40 years ago, our philosophy has remained constant - the relentless pursuit of sonic perfection without commercial compromises in design, construction, or cost. All Gryphon products have been conceived in this same perfectionist spirit: uncompromising engineering in the service of music, impeccable build quality complemented by our original, "Nordic Noir" aesthetic sensibility and simplicity of use. The culmination of Gryphon's four decades of philosophies, design goals, and engineering expertise are fully realized in Commander.

Chord Electronics has launched its first-ever small desktop integrated amplifier, Anni. Capable of driving both headphones and compact loudspeakers, the Qutest-sized Anni benefits from the company's proprietary Ultima circuit topology and is perfectly positioned to exploit the full potential of today's high-performance headphones, desktop monitors, and high-resolution audio sources. The new Anni desktop integrated amplifier forms part of the Qutest range and seamlessly complements the resolving abilities of the multi-award-winning Qutest standalone DAC and Huei phono stage. As a system, the Qutest components provide an unrivaled desktop audio solution, offering class-leading digital and analog technologies for the modern music lover. The company's compact QSS (Qutest Stand System) modular equipment rack provides the perfect support, too.

Famed for its amplifiers and digital source components spanning four decades, Audiolab is now releasing its first product designed to improve the quality of AC electricity we feed our audio and AV systems - the dual-action DC Block. The company claims mains electricity has a fundamental influence on the audio signal as it passes through a system, from source to amp to speakers. In a typical dwelling, it is subject to interference induced by a range of issues, causing the AC waveform to distort before it reaches each component. This creates noise in the audio signal, which degrades sound quality - a situation that continues to worsen as the electrical devices we use in our homes proliferate.

I have long got bored by the discussions on whether or not the power cords actually work. Maybe it's because, unlike some of their participants, I have experienced all or almost all the stages of this adventure. Just like many audiophiles, I have started as a skeptic. It cannot be done in any other way, since one gains expertise in this field through time-consuming experiments and listening sessions, not sudden enlightenment or the purchase of the most expensive accessories on the market. To hear the difference, one has to reach for hi-end products. Buying a cord that is more expensive than the appliance it's connected to seems ridiculous, yet, the system does not sound the same way it used to, and the thought of improving the sound returns like a boomerang. Over the years, I have tested many cables and conditioners. I have participated in many listening sessions and different sorts of experiments. I have compared standard 'computer' cables to hi-end wires worth thousands of dollars. That is why I am not particularly interested in purely theoretical discussions. Been there, done that, have a t-shirt. I prefer to check power accessories in practice. And that is what I'm going to do now.