Displaying items by tag: germany - StereoLife Magazine

Whenever I grumble about the fragmentation of the audio equipment market, which translates into a huge variety of equipment available in stores, but also problems for customers to sort it all out in their heads and make a choice, I get a press release about new speakers, amplifier, or wireless headphones. If only these were brands whose existence I was aware of, whose products caught my eye while browsing magazines or reports from exhibitions, but this is not always the case. Later it turns out that we are not at all dealing with a small factory founded by enthusiastic students, but with a company operating continuously for thirty years, boasting many successes, awards, and, of course, a large group of loyal fans. Such was the case with Lindemann.

Dual is one of the brands highly regarded by audiophiles, vinyl enthusiasts in particular. And there's a good reason for that. The German manufacturer has produced so many outstanding turntables that it's hard to count them all. A well-preserved or restored Dual can be connected to any stereo system, even an expensive one, and not only will it look great, but with an appropriate cartridge, it should also sound so good that new, mid-range turntables will hide under the sofa with shame. Until recently, if you wanted to buy a Dual product, you would have to be patient, search through popular auction services and find a professional who could bring old electronics to factory condition. Fortunately, today Dual's products are not only museum pieces, decorations in trendy cafes, or turntables for connoisseurs who can appreciate the quality of their craft and sound. After the reactivation of the company, you can now purchase them again in audio stores. How did it come about? Is it something more than a short, one-time spurt? And why did so many vinyl fans get goosebumps just hearing that Dual was back in business? To find out, we decided to look at the company's history and find out what makes it so unique.

Dual has recently made a spectacular comeback. The legendary turntable manufacturer, which not long ago we used to associate only with vintage gear, suddenly came back into the game. First, a high-end model Primus Maximus was presented to the world, which can be interpreted as a kind of manifesto, a showcase of technical capabilities, and perhaps an announcement of the following models, which will be its simpler and cheaper counterparts. However, if we are looking for a budget turntable, we should instead not look at the devices occupying top positions in the catalog. I know, at first glance, all the inexpensive models available on the market seem similar. Still, it is enough to look at a few key components such as a cartridge, tonearm, drive, and rear panel equipment to already have an idea of which one is built solidly and which one just looks nice in pictures. If you take the time to do this, you will realize that Dual is not only a company with a history dating back to 1900 and an object of sigh for audiophiles who remember the 1970s, but also a company that offers some of the most interesting and best-equipped budget turntables. Will the automatic CS 429 be further proof of this thesis?

New generations of iconic Audio Physic loudspeakers become smaller but more technically advanced, and each design equipped with a certain number of drivers is replaced by a new one. Some speakers, such as the Tempo, have resisted this trend, while others are now significantly smaller than before - the Avanti floorstanders being a case in point. Fans of Audio Physic's compact loudspeakers couldn't wait for the next incarnation of the Spark model. For a long time, the manufacturer argued that this function is fulfilled by the Classic 8 and Classic 15 models. It seemed that we would never see the new Spark again, but the Germans surprised us, and doubly so. Firstly, they have just announced the introduction of the new Spark, and secondly, they have made significant changes in its design. Yes, the new one is a three-way monitor.

Dual is one of the brands most respected by audiophiles. It has produced so many great turntables that it's hard to count them all and a well-preserved Dual turntable, especially if we are talking about high-end models, is an excellent investment. After a restoration, such a source can be connected to any stereo system, even an expensive one, without complexes. Not only will it look great, but with the correct cartridge, it should also sound so good that owners of new turntables will feel embarrassed. Until recently, Dual's turntables could only be purchased on the second-hand market, but fortunately, the company has risen like a phoenix from the ashes, releasing several interesting and affordable turntables. I was most interested in the CS 418, a classic manual turntable with a built-in phono stage, belt drive, easy-to-use tonearm, and Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. And the price - €499 for a brand new Dual? I had to see what's what.

Grell, founded by renowned German headphone engineer Axel Grell, announces the debut of a brand-new line of true wireless headphones with the Grell TWS/1. The new in-ear headphones deliver audiophile-grade sound quality for consumers who crave crystal clear, transparent audio and a closer connection to their music, with a direct-to-consumer sales model designed to deliver a personalized, high-end listening experience to a new generation of users - so that the price reflects the Grell-designed sound-quality, alone.

Dual's beginnings can be traced back to 1900 when brothers Christian and Joseph Steidinger began manufacturing watches and turntable parts. Ten years later, the Gebrüder Steidinger company began manufacturing power supplies to allow turntables to operate using mains electricity. It was not long before Dual started making their turntables. After the war, they became the largest manufacturer of this type of equipment in Europe, employing over 3,000 people in several factories. Later the brand expanded to offer customers complete hi-fi systems with amplifiers, tuners, cassette players, and speakers.

T+A Elektroakustik expands its successful portfolio of headphones. The Solitaire P-SE shares its heritage with the Solitaire P and delivers the performance audiophiles have come to expect from T+A headphones. The Solitaire P-SE has been designed using the original Solitaire P as the base and has retained key design elements such as chamfered ear cups. T+A have replaced aluminum parts with high-quality synthetic compound to reduce production costs and overall weight. The P-SE features a new transducer unit (the TPM 2500), with new membranes and filters, all of which are new developments. The Solitaire P-SE is hand-made in Herford Germany and is available in the new elegant black matt finish.

Audio Physic introduces the results of years of research and development. The Cardeas is the first loudspeaker of an entirely new generation that incorporates the brand-new Audio Physic PowerTrain technology. The loudspeaker is designed from scratch to get the most out of the PowerTrain and deliver unparalleled sound performance. This technology includes various innovations and improvements that have not yet seen the light of day.

T+A, the high-end specialist audio manufacturer based in Germany, announced the launch of its first-ever headphones and headphone amplifier - Solitaire P and HA 200. Hand-built in Germany, the corded over-ear planar-magnetostatic headphone design combines minimalist styling and the finest materials with class-leading research and development. Also hand-built in Germany, the HA 200 utilizes the company's flagship HV Series circuits in a Class-A design that operates at a high idle current, enabling it to drive even the most demanding headphones without difficulty. In no uncertain terms, T+A has created these products for those that crave a new level of headphone performance.