Sony is a Japanese company that specializes in various electronics products, including HiFi audio equipment.

Sony

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc., often referred to simply as McIntosh, is an esteemed American brand renowned for its high-quality audio equipment. Founded in 1949 in Binghamton, New York, McIntosh has established itself as a pioneer in the high-fidelity audio industry. The brand is synonymous with enduring build quality, aesthetic elegance, and unparalleled sound performance, making it a choice of audiophiles and music enthusiasts worldwide.

Known for its distinctive design, McIntosh products feature signature black glass front panels, aluminum end caps, and the iconic "McIntosh Blue" watt meters, which have become a symbol of audio excellence. Their product range encompasses a wide array of audio equipment, including amplifiers, preamplifiers, speakers, turntables, and other audio accessories, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail and acoustic perfection.

McIntosh's dedication to producing high-quality sound reproduction is evident in their use of advanced technologies and precision engineering. Their products are often the result of extensive research and development, ensuring that they not only meet but exceed industry standards.

In addition to sound quality, McIntosh is committed to the longevity and durability of its products. Many McIntosh units from decades past are still in use today, a testament to their build quality and the company's commitment to sustainability through longevity.

Whether for home audio systems, professional studios, or luxury car audio, McIntosh provides an audio experience that is both immersive and emotionally engaging, offering a level of performance that is as close to the original recording as possible. Their legacy and ongoing innovation continue to set the standard in high-end audio, making McIntosh a prestigious and revered name in the world of hi-fi audio systems.

McIntosh

Ortofon is a Danish company that specializes in the design and production of high-quality audio equipment, particularly phono cartridges and styli. They are known for their precision engineering and superior sound reproduction.

Ortofon

Pro-Ject is a brand that specializes in manufacturing high-quality turntables and audio equipment.

Pro-Ject

Marantz is a company renowned for producing high-quality audio equipment, particularly catering to audiophiles who appreciate detailed and nuanced sound. Their product range includes amplifiers, receivers, CD players, and turntables, all designed with a focus on delivering superior audio fidelity.

Marantz equipment is known for its distinctive sonic signature, often described as warm and rich, which appeals to those who value musicality over analytical sound reproduction. Their products combine high-quality components and meticulous engineering, with an emphasis on preserving the integrity of the audio signal.

In terms of technical specifications, Marantz devices often feature advanced digital-to-analog converters (DACs), precision engineering in their turntables, and robust amplification circuits. This ensures minimal distortion and a clean, clear sound. Additionally, many of their receivers and amplifiers include modern features like network connectivity, supporting various streaming services and digital formats.

Aesthetic-wise, Marantz equipment typically sports a classic, elegant design, often featuring brushed metal finishes and minimalistic control layouts. This design philosophy reflects a balance between functionality and visual appeal, making their equipment a preferred choice for those who value both performance and style in their audio setup.

Overall, Marantz represents a blend of high-fidelity audio performance, modern functionality, and timeless design, making it a favorite among audio enthusiasts who seek a rich and immersive listening experience.

Marantz

Technics is a brand name of the Panasonic Corporation, a Japanese multinational consumer electronics company.

Technics


The setup stands as a testament to the harmonious fusion of high-fidelity audio with modern living space aesthetics. Anchoring the space are the Dynaudio Special 40 speakers, their wood veneer finish presenting a touch of organic warmth against the crisp, contemporary lines of the white media console. The speakers are flanked by the Simaudio Moon Neo Ace, an all-in-one amplifier that promises a sound as pure as its design suggests, and the Technics 1210 Mk5, a turntable revered for its precision and durability, ready to spin vinyl into audible gold.

Positioned meticulously within the room, each component is not only chosen for its technical prowess but also for its contribution to the room's visual symmetry. The artwork, "The Moon" from the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, acts as a backdrop, adding depth and context to the setup. It creates an environment where the blend of sound and space invites a full sensory appreciation. The carefully selected vinyl on display hints at a broad musical palette, while the ambient lighting ensures that the room's atmosphere is as meticulously crafted as the audio that fills it.

by: ShogunzBlazin

j4lvciy63xm31.jpg

Sound and Aesthetics — A Study in Harmony

The ACE is acclaimed for its intuitive and user-friendly design, being Spotify Connect compatible and Roon Ready. It supports all major audio file formats, including DSD and MQA, accessible through local files or TIDAL Master files. As an all-in-one music system, the ACE has won awards for its ability to connect simply to a pair of speakers and the internet, enabling seamless music enjoyment. What sets the ACE apart is its fidelity to the renowned MOON sonic signature, characterized by visceral tight bass, transparent midrange, precise natural highs, and lifelike sound, ensuring a memorable listening experience every time. Additionally, vinyl enthusiasts can utilize the built-in moving magnet phono stage, making the ACE a versatile system that enhances the audio quality of any vinyl record.

Laurels aren’t for resting on.

We still surprise ourselves. Some people might be content to sit back and be complacent about their successes after 40 years of constant innovation. We aren’t. In fact, we only get hungrier for new techniques and technologies.

That’s why we developed the Special Forty: we wanted to revisit those innovations and see what we’d do differently this time. What you won’t find here is anything revolutionary. Instead, you’ll discover a look at our past – along with some special sneak-previews of the future. The Special Forty is classic Dynaudio: all the craftsmanship, attention to detail and total love of authentic sound you’ve come to expect. It’s the connoisseur’s choice – a simple pair of passive hi-fi speakers. But it isn’t about looking back, misty-eyed, at past glories and leaving it at that. It’s about using those glories as a platform from which to launch our next set of breakthroughs.

Greatest hits… reimagined.

We do compact speakers really well. We always have. So, as a nod back to classics including the Special One, the Special Twenty-Five, the Crafft and the Contour 1.3SE, we kept the Special Forty pure – if incredibly advanced. Of course, it wouldn’t be an anniversary speaker if it didn’t include some of our greatest hits. But we haven’t just got the old band back together to trot out the same old stuff, unchanged. We’ve remixed, remastered and rearranged things to bring those old favourites into 2017 – and beyond. That’s why it has one of our classic first-order crossover designs, incorporating our unique Phase Alignment and Impedance Alignment technologies. The crossover expertly marshals the input signal between the woofer and the tweeter – so each driver gets only the frequencies it’s supposed to, and can perform at its very best. Its specially selected components handle the impedance optimisation and, because both drivers have extended frequency ranges for even better overlap and integration, that performance borders on the mesmerising.

The song remains the same.

The Special Forty uses our proprietary MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) material for its main driver. MSP delivers precisely the right combination of rigidity, damping and stability for the most faithful sound reproduction. And, unlike other cone materials, it doesn’t change over time – so your Special Forty speakers will still be singing just as sweetly come our next anniversary. The cone itself uses a painstakingly developed symmetrical excursion for even better midrange performance. Behind it sits our asymmetrical spider – our passive harmonic rectifier. It minimises upper harmonics to further tighten the performance and make it possible not only to pick out individual parts in a piece of music, but even individual instruments in an orchestra. (So now, finally, the Third Violin section can have its day in the sun.) And, like all our other MSP cones, it’s a one-piece design (you can tell by the special balance ribs around the central dust-cap). This gives it an incredibly solid connection to the voice-coil, as well as stabilising its form – which is crucial when you decide to turn it up to 11. It all sits in our special AirFlow Basket – the bit that holds the whole driver motor securely in place in the cabinet. Its development was one of those ‘Eureka!’ moments our engineers seem to get a few times a week in Dynaudio Labs (you can often hear them cheering from across the road in our factory). We asked them to reduce internal reflections and increase air movement without compromising the basket’s stiffness or stability, and this genius design is what they came up with.

Airflow is king.

The new Esotar Forty tweeter takes air-movement to another level. It moves the air in typically sweet fashion in front of the DSR (Dynaudio Secret Recipe) precision-coated soft-dome, of course, but there’s a lot of engineering going on behind it as well. Take the new pressure conduit. It’s a shaped vent in the back of the hybrid magnet system that allows more space in the rear chamber. That space lets us pack in more damping material and reduces back-pressure, while the shape itself optimises airflow coming backwards from the rear of the dome. Then there’s the outlet; the aero-coupled pressure-release system. It sits underneath the voice-coil and reduces unwanted pressure build-up that could affect its movement. Stopping those pockets of air from forming reduces resonance – and less resonance equals even greater potential for detail.

Flux optimisation and beam control.

We love playing with the laws of physics. Physics wins in the end, of course (usually), but we almost always manage to bend it to our will along the way. Just like we have with our magnet systems. The magnet turns electrical energy that flows from your amplifier into the voice-coil, into the physical back-and-forth movement of the driver diaphragm. These movements are very small and very fast (especially in the tweeter), so they need a lot of finesse if you want to hear all that luscious detail and emotion in your music.

Behind the woofer.

In the woofer, we’ve achieved that finesse in two ways: by placing the magnet inside the voice-coil, and by playing with magnetic energy itself. Other manufacturers typically put it around the outside edge, leaving the voice-coil hollow. Putting the magnet inside keeps the magnetic energy (or flux) in the optimum position for getting itself wrapped around the voice-coil – where it should be. That means we can use more of its power for a given weight. It also reduces internal reflections because there’s less material for sound to bounce off inside the driver. Second, we use a hybrid magnet for even greater control over the flux and voice-coil movement. An incredibly powerful neodymium rare-earth magnet provides the muscle and flings flux around with abandon, while a ferrite magnet tempers that enthusiasm by gently moving the flux back to exactly where it’s needed most. The result? Symmetrical excursion, a reduction in second-harmonics, and an even more accurate, authentic sound.

2020 finish update.

Dynaudio’s award-winning anniversary speaker, Special Forty, has been given a makeover with two stunning new finishes. Black Vine is a striking contrast of dark veneer shot through with vivid orange, while Ebony Wave is a captivatingly sinuous take on the classic hardwood. Both veneers are man-made to Dynaudio’s specs, ensuring total consistency between pairs of speakers. And the level of finish possible is simply astonishing – they look as smooth as glass, and as lustrous as a piece of luxury antique furniture. Just as you’d expect from a nation of design-fanatics.

Special Forty

SL-1210MK5

This setup is a cozy corner for anyone who loves the warm crackle of a vinyl record and the rich sounds of jazz. It's a mix of old and new, with pieces like the Sansui 9090 receiver and Luxman MQ60 tube amplifier bringing out the best in classic records. These pieces are known for making music feel full and alive, which is perfect for getting lost in the grooves of a good jazz album. The turntable, a Denon DP-57L with its special Denon 103D pickup, is ready to spin any record, from the newest pressings to old favorites, making sure every note is clear and vibrant.

The setup also has a nod to the days of mixtapes with a Technics cassette deck, ready for when you feel like a retro vibe. And when it's time for something more modern, there's a Pioneer CD player that keeps digital tunes sounding great. Everything comes together through Klipsch speakers that make sure every song fills the room without missing a beat. It's a space that's built for sinking into the music, whether that's a lively jazz tune or any song that means something special.

by: jazz_and_vinyl

429913743_1142798346737157_833899195891301798_n.jpg

The Warmth of Vinyl and Jazz

9090/990

MQ-60

The Technics RS-630 USD is a cassette deck introduced by Technics.

RS-630 USD

DP-57 L

The Denon DL-103 D is a moving coil (MC) phono cartridge made by Denon. It is known for its exceptional sound quality and has been highly regarded by audiophiles and enthusiasts. The DL-103 D features a low output voltage and requires a phono preamp or step-up transformer with sufficient gain. It has a diamond stylus for accurate tracking and a rugged construction for durability. The DL-103 D is designed to be used with a high-quality turntable setup and is often considered a benchmark in the world of audiophile cartridges.

DL-103 D

PD-S 701

The PHO-701 is an enhanced version of the successful PHO-700 tube phono preamplifier, offering significant improvements in customization and sound quality. Unlike its predecessor, the PHO-701 includes DIP-switches, allowing users to make precise adjustments tailored to their specific pick-up cartridge needs. This feature eliminates the need for compromises typically required in many other phono preamplifiers. Consequently, users experience a notable enhancement in sound quality and fine resolution, achieving a richer and more detailed audio reproduction.

PHO-701

Forte III

This HiFi setup is a minimalist's dream, centered around the Dali Epicon 2 speakers, known for their crystal-clear sound and sleek design. These speakers are a perfect match for modern living spaces, combining high-end audio performance with a stylish look.

The system is powered by the Marantz Model 40n amplifier, renowned for its warm, detailed sound. Accompanying it is the Marantz CD60 CD player, ensuring high-quality digital audio playback. For vinyl enthusiasts, the Technics SL-1200GR turntable adds a classic touch. This setup is a blend of simplicity and sophistication, ideal for anyone who loves great sound in a compact, elegant package.

by ursynowski_ksiaze

418880580_18294765352158645_5956416239448440913_n.jpg

419195619_18294765355158645_3773749466035457986_n.jpg

420075874_18296283169158645_6834180628051902940_n.jpg

418838323_18294765367158645_1311533733716312543_n.jpg

Sleek and Sophisticated: The Epicon 2 Minimalist HiFi Setup

Marantz Model 40n

Epicon 2

The Marantz CD-60 is a CD player that was released in the 1980s. It is known for its high-quality sound output and sleek design.

Technics HiFi Setups

Popular Brands

Sound and Aesthetics — A Study in Harmony

The Warmth of Vinyl and Jazz

Sleek and Sophisticated: The Epicon 2 Minimalist HiFi Setup